John Cooper McCrillis

Newport, NH – John Cooper McCrillis, 86, of Newport, NH, passed away peacefully on June 21st with his loving family by his side following a brief illness.

Born in Newport, NH on May 30, 1930, he was the son of John Wilmarth McCrillis and Hester Laura Cooper. A descendant of John Wilmarth, who settled in Newport, NH in the late 1700’s,   John attended Newport schools and graduated from Kimball Union Academy in 1948 and Dartmouth College in 1952, where he was a member of the Dartmouth tennis team and Zeta PSI Fraternity. John was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, who devoted his life to serving God, home and country.

Following his graduation from Dartmouth College, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War era with a tour in Germany. After his discharge from the Army, John worked for the Old Colony Trust Company of Boston, MA, during which time he met the love of his life, Katharine Cooper Wood of Bedford, NY. They were married June 27, 1959 on the island of Maui, Hawaii. In 1963 he moved back to his hometown of Newport, where he joined the family insurance agency, McCrillis and Eldredge, as a principal and owner until his retirement in 1992.

John served as a Trustee of the Lake Sunapee Bank; on Insurance Company-Agency Advisory Boards; as a Founding Partner of Hospital Hill and Summercrest Assisted Living Facility and a Founding Partner of the Newport Tennis Club.

John supported the local community through his involvement in many charitable and service organizations: the Newport Ski Club; Mount Sunapee Area Ski Club; the Newport Nordic Club; President, Paul Harris Fellow and 30 year member of Newport Rotary Club; Richards Free Library Trustee; President and Trustee of the Newport Hospital; Trustee of the Spaulding Youth Center; Board of Trustees of Kimball Union Academy; Dartmouth Class of 1952 Vice President; and Newport Charitable Fund Trustee.

He held memberships in Zeta PSI Fraternity; Dartmouth Club of the Upper Valley; the Masons Lodge #23, Cornish, NH; the New England Ski Museum; Lake Mansfield Trout Club and the Lake Sunapee Yacht Club.

His faith was important to him. As a member of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, he served as senior warden, treasurer, trustee of trust funds and as a member of the vestry. He and his wife Kay, were founding members of the Grace Anglican Church of Newport, NH.

In 1991 John was honored as the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year, as he was recognized for his life-time of service to Newport, representing the best in purpose, competence and reliability. Kimball Union Academy recognized John in 1998 with the prestigious Kimball Union Medal, for his outstanding work on behalf of the Academy.

He loved spending time outdoors and was an avid skier, tennis player, sailor and hiker. As a founder of the Newport Nordic Club he was instrumental in having the 30 meter ski jump moved from Lake Placid, NY, to Newport. John and his father, John W. McCrillis were the Lake Sunapee Star Fleet Champions in 1966.

Members of his surviving family include his devoted wife of 57 years, Katharine Cooper Wood; his sister Sally Evelyn McCrillis Eldredge of Newport, NH; daughter Laura (McCrillis) Kessler and son-in-law Jeff of Newport, son David and daughter-in-law Lauri of Newport and son Bill and daughter-in-law Leci of Hopkinton, NH; four cherished grandchildren: Katharine and Philip Kessler of Newport, Cooper McCrillis of Newport and Jack McCrillis of Hopkinton and six nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his granddaughter Meredith McCrillis of Newport. John enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family. 

A memorial service celebrating John’s life will take place at the South Congregational Church, Newport, NH on Saturday, August 6, at 2 PM with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Newport Charitable Fund, c/o NH Charitable Foundation, 37 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301.

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