John W. Colby

Born on March 23, 1969 in San Mateo, California, he was the son of Pete and Janet (Beecher) Colby. He was a 1987 graduate of Concord High School, and a 1991 graduate of New England School of Art & Design.

John was a well regarded artist and artisan whose products sold worldwide and were featured in photo fashion spreads, album covers, magazine covers and on music videos and television shows. He traveled extensively, both abroad and nationally. John loved to hike, having spent many summers in Colebrook, Errol and on Lake Umbagog with his grandparents, and loved The Great North Woods.

In addition to his parents, John is survived by his brother, Gregory and wife Karin, nephew Ryan and niece Lauryn Colby of Bow, NH; three aunts, Sylvia Collins of Colebrook, NH, Virginia Beecher of Bow, NH, and Carol Sue Anderson and husband Jim of Westford, VT; five cousins, Sandra Duval of Concord, NH, Jim Collins of Loudon, NH, Karen Riendeau of Colebrook, NH, Susan Anderson of Dover, PA, and Debra Ehnstrom of E. Orleans, MA, as well as their spouses and children.

John was predeceased by his grandparents Carroll “Hap” and Alma Colby, and Homer and Agnes Beecher, as well as three uncles, Walter “Billy” Collins, Jr., Warren Drew and John Drew; and one aunt, Jane Stevens.

A celebration of his life will be held at 4 p.m. at The Bennett Funeral Home in Concord, NH on Sunday, July 11, 2010. Burial will be at a later date in the Errol Village Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory, made payable to the John William Colby Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Rosemary Mulliken, First Colebrook Bank, 132 Main Street, Colebrook, NH 03576.

Arrangements under the direction of Bennett Funeral Home, Concord, NH.