John Henry Northcott

His parents, Thomas N. and Charlotte (Stevens) Northcott welcomed John Henry into the world on February 20, 1932, in Bridgeport, CT. John spent his early years in Bridgeport, before moving to Fairfield, CT where he was a 1949 graduate of Roger Ludlowe High School. He later attended Bridgeport University.

John proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War, serving from November 1949 until February 1955. He considered the year he spent on Adak in the Aleutian Islands as one of his most interesting life experiences.

John was an executive for many years with the IBM Corporation based out of Armonk, NY. He was able to travel the world with this career. He especially enjoyed the several years he lived in Tokyo. A favorite daily ritual was jogging around the grounds of the Imperial Palace. He had an insatiable curiosity and loved learning about the cultures he was experiencing through his work and travels. In addition to Japan, John particularly loved his time spent in New Zealand and Australia.

Following his retirement in 1998, John moved from Weston, CT to West Hill in Marlborough, NH where he purchased and remodeled an 1805 farmhouse. He

designed and assisted in the construction of an addition to the home, seamlessly blending the old with the new. He loved to tell stories about the history of the home and especially loved that he gathered the field stones himself from the property for the stonemason to use in designing the living room fireplace. John loved spending his days working on the West Hill property, whether it be gardening, mending stone walls, chopping wood, using his tractor, or simply relaxing up at the pond.

While living in Marlborough, John served for 13 years as a selectman. He also served on the budget committee, the Marl-Harris Ambulance board, and the board of the Frost Free Library. He loved his newly adopted hometown and was active in all aspects of living there.

Throughout the years, John was a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Audubon Society, a deacon in the First Congregational Church in Fairfield, a scuba diver, and an avid tennis player. He strongly believed in the conservation of natural land and was a proud member of the Society for the Protection of NH Forests.

John loved traveling, history, and walking with his Bernese Mountain dogs in the woods. Completing the New York Times crossword puzzles while listening to classical music was a favorite pastime, as well as playing a fierce game of Scrabble on the back porch during warm summer evenings.

John will be greatly missed by many, especially his wife of nearly 17 years, Catherine L. "Cathy" (Steffus) Northcott of Keene; his daughters Eileen McIndoe and her husband Dana of Monroe, CT, Joan Vetter and her husband Michael of East Windsor, NJ; his grandchildren, Robert Vetter and his wife Casey of Marlborough, NH, Ryan Vetter and Thomas Vetter, both of East Windsor, NJ; Cathy’s children, Grant Boeringa and Hope Boeringa, both of Denver, CO; his mother-in-law Carol Steffus of Hobart, IN; his brothers-in-law Jim Steffus and his wife Lynne of Brownsburg, IN, Tom Steffus and his wife Jennifer of Palatine, IL; his sister-in-law, Christine Amore and her husband Vince of Hobart, IN; many nieces and nephews; as well as his special cats Archie and Beatrice. Two brothers, Thomas Northcott and Robert Northcott, a sister Margaret “Babe” Tremblay, father-in-law Peter Steffus, and several nieces and nephews predeceased him.

Services for Mr. Northcott will be held privately by the family.

For those who wish, donations may be made in his memory to Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431. Cathy would like to extend a special thank you to the loving members of the staff at American House Keene that cared so tenderly for John.