Frederick J. Esch

PEMBROKE - Mr. Frederick J. Esch, 74, a longtime resident of Suncook Village, died Thursday, April 21, 2011, after a long illness.

He was born on June 16, 1936, in New York City to Fred and Mary (Roth) Esch. Fred graduated from Peter Stuyvesant High School in New York City and New England College.

He was a registered professional civil engineer and was employed by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for more than 25 years.

When he reached middle age, Fred took up bicycling and enjoyed riding with the Granite State Wheelmen. On more than one occasion, he did a Century Ride – 100 miles in one day.

His other interests were stamp collecting, reading, working at his computer and traveling, especially to Florida. But nothing gave him more pleasure than his cats.

Fred is survived by his wife of 42 years, Ruth Ann (Letendre) Esch of Pembroke; his cousin, Judith (Roth) Mitchell of Davenport, Fla.; and many cousins in Germany, of whom he was very fond.

Friends and family may call at the Petit Funeral Home, 167 Main St., Pembroke, on Monday, April 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be held Tuesday, April 26, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Msgr. Paul Bouchard officiating.

Burial will follow in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Allenstown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to the Patient Services Fund, New Hampshire Kidney Center, 248 Pleasant St., G 400, Concord 03301; or to Tri-Town Ambulance Service, 247 Pembroke St., Pembroke 03275; or to Concord-Merrimack County SPCA, 130 Washington St., Penacook 03303.

To sign an on-line guestbook, please visit petitfuneralhome.com.