Notable NH Deaths: 'Mr. T,' A Veteran And Icon At Manchester Central High School

By InDepth NH

InDepthNH.org scans the websites of New Hampshire funeral homes each week and selects at random some of our friends, relatives and neighbors to feature in this column. The people listed here passed away during the previous weeks and have some public or charitable connection to their community. InDepthNH.org is now offering obituaries through the Legacy.com service. We view this as part of our public service mission. Click here or on the Obituaries tab at the top of our home page to learn more. And if you know of someone from New Hampshire who should be featured in this column, please send your suggestions to NancyWestNews@gmail.com.

Gerald P. Bourgeois, 88, of Meredith, died June 18, 2025. Dr. Bourgeois devoted 39 years to education across New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts as a teacher, principal, director, superintendent, and adjunct professor. Until retiring in 1998, he worked with the N.H. Department of Education as chief of staff and acting deputy commissioner. He co-founded the New England League of Middle Schools in 1976 and served as president of the National Middle School Association in 1986–1987. He also taught graduate-level courses at Notre Dame College and Plymouth State University. He was a volunteer firefighter, dispatcher, and fire commissioner. In retirement, he authored ihistories of the Concord, Laconia, and Plymouth fire departments, receiving the City of Concord’s Service Award in 2016. (Mayhew Funeral Homes and Crematorium)

James David Crockett, 73, of Manchester, died June 18, 2025. He was a chief probation/parole officer for the State of New Hampshire Department of Corrections. (Legacy.com)

Walter Henry Flinn III, 94, of Laconia, died June 23, 2025. He worked for Western Electric (AT&T) for 29 years and retired in 1985 as manager of installation of computer hardware and transmission equipment in the Bell Operating Companies. He purchased Valley Graphics in Plymouth and for 17 years his company specialized in creating Yellow Page advertising for Telephone Company directories. He served on the boards of the Indian Museum in Warner; Squam Lake Science Center; Lake Region Charitable Trust; Boys and Girls Club of the Lakes Region; Boys and Girls Club of Central New Hampshire, and the Taylor Community. He was an incorporator of the Circle Program for Girls and chaired a committee for the expansion of the Gilford Community Church. (Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services)

Louise (Grenier) Huppe, 87, of Manchester, died June 17, 2025. She started Aunt Louise’s Play School in 1971 and founded Wee Play School in 1982 until briefly retiring in 2003, before permanently retiring in 2005. She was a former president of the Association of Children with Learning Disabilities of NH. (Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory)

Robert J. Von Iderstine, 66, of Ashland, died June 20, 2025. He had served as a fire captain/EMT for the Plymouth Fire Department for many years. He was also a member of the Plymouth Elks Lodge 2312 and 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. (Smith & Heald Funeral Home)

Deborah M. Lynch, 61, of Stewartstown, died June 21, 2025. She worked in local school districts and served as a principal, teacher and administrator. (Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home)

Darrel Palmer, 85, of Andover, died June 19, 2025. He owned and operated New London Texaco, Darrel’s Service Center, New London Service Center and later worked for S & P Auto in Andover. He was an agent for AAA for many years. He served as a selectman for 12 years and as a Sutton volunteer firefighter for more than 50 years, acting as chief for 10 years. He was a member of the N.H. Tow Association, Musterfield Farm Museum, and the North Sutton Improvement Society. He was a life member of the Sutton Historical Society and the longest-serving member of the N.H. Grant and Aid Program for the N.H. Snowmobile Association. (Chadwick Funeral and Cremation Service)

Ardeane Ruth Rines, 96, of Whitefield, died June 20, 2025. She was postmaster of the Meadows Post Office, a part of Jefferson, operating the store and the post office for more than 26 years.
She was a 57-year member of the Granite State Rebekah Lodge, serving as both Noble Grand and District Deputy Grand Master. She was a long-time member of the Jefferson Historical Society. She delivered Meals on Wheels to North Country residents and served with North Country Hospice. She was the Jefferson Citizen of the Year in 1989 and was awarded the Joseph Vaughan Volunteer Award by Gov. John Lynch in 2005. (Bailey Funeral Home)

Michael J. Terrile, 58, of Hampstead, died June 18, 2025. He taught art for 34 years at the Hampstead Central School. One of his classes celebrated him by wearing pretend mustaches in honor of his signature handlebar mustache. He had a Master of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and a Master of Education. (Carrier Family Funeral Home)

Donald J. "T" Tibbetts, 74,of Labelle, Fla., and Manchester, died June 25, 2025. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a beloved physical education teacher at Manchester’s Central High School. Social media was filled today with tributes to a man that many are calling a Manchester icon. It was at Central High School where he built his career dedicated to the students of Manchester, as a physical education teacher, where he was known for rocking two different colored Chuck Taylors. Every student formed a strong bond with “Mr. T” and growing into adults, built long lasting friendships with him. Many have said he never forgot a name. He also was a proud owner of Skateboard Center and Mr. T’s Drivers Ed School. After 34 years at Central High School, he retired in 2007. He was a band member of the legendary bands Mystical Flowers, Wholly Righteous and Head Shop. Headshop started in 1988 at the Faculty Follies Show at Central High School. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. (Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory)

Richard Eastwood Wilson, DMD, 78, of Brookfield, died June 23, 2025. A U.S. Army veteran, he practiced dentistry in Brookfield for nearly 40 years. He was a 22-year member of the Wakefield Area Ambulance Corps, serving as a volunteer EMT. He was a member of the Wakefield JayCees. An Eagle Scout himself, he was also assistant scoutmaster of Boy Scout troop 198 in Wakefield. (Peaslee Funeral Home)

WORDS OF WISDOM: "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn, actress, May 4, 1929, to Jan. 20, 1993

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.