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 WOLFEBORO - John F. Bridges, 79, passed away Aug. 16, 2012, after a brief battle with cancer.
He was born in Concord to the late former N.H. Governor and U.S. Sen. H. Styles and Sally Clement Bridges and educated at local schools. As a young boy, he summered in Wolfeboro, and some of his fondest memories were of working at Goodhue and Hawkins Navy Yard and on the steamship, the Swallow.
He graduated from Admiral Billard Academy in New London, Conn., and Wentworth Institute in Boston. John served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. He then went to work for Universal Carloading, living in several locations around the country before moving back to New Hampshire in 1966.
In 1970, he was elected to the N.H. House of Representatives and then was elected to the Executive Council from District 4 from 1972 to 1974. It was during a run for U.S. Congress that John met his wife, Barbara. John then served as director of Safety Services, N.H. Marine Patrol, and founded Island Real Estate in 1979, which brought him back to his first love, Lake Winnipesaukee. In 1984, John and his family moved to Wolfeboro, where he continued to operate Island Real Estate for more than 30 years with his longtime partner, Betty Ann Gagne, and cofounded Bridges' Hallmark Shop with his wife in Wolfeboro. John served on various state boards over the years, including trustee of the Youth Development Center, Department of Environmental Services, Water Council, Water Resources, Moorings Appeal Board, Wolfeboro Police Commission for four years, and he was a committee member of the Milfoil Committee.
John also enjoyed speaking to various clubs and organizations about the history of the islands of Winnipesaukee and reminiscing about the early days in Wolfeboro. In the early 1990s, he was known for his folksy weather reports from his summer home on Barndoor Island. He loved his early morning rows around the islands and would share his stories with the listeners of WASR in Wolfeboro.
John was a devoted and loving husband to his best friend and wife, the former Barbara Grueter, for 39 years. He was a loving father to his daughter, Cynthia of Wolfeboro; his son, John of South Portland, Maine; his grandchildren, Leif Hansen of Wolfeboro, Zac Biron of Weare and Grace Elizabeth Bridges of South Portland, Maine; great-grandchildren Ava and Skye Hansen and Jacob Biron. He also leaves many nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, whom he cared for deeply. He was predeceased by two brothers, David and Styles Jr. He also leaves behind his most faithful companion, his dog, Roxie, who provided him with so much love and companionship.
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services:Calling hours will be held at St. Katharine Drexel Church in Alton on Monday, Aug. 20, from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Katherine Drexel Building Fund, Alton, or to the Lakes Region Humane Society, 11 Old Route 28, Ossipee 03864.
The Baker-Gagne Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Wolfeboro is handling the arrangements. To send condolences online and sign a guest book, go to baker-gagnefuneralhomes.com.
Published in Union Leader on August 17, 2012
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