Alexander Taft

PETERBOROUGH - Alexander "Zandy" Taft, 85, died at RiverMead on March 29, 2012.

Mr. Taft was born in Greenville on May 19, 1926, the son of Mary (McKaig) and Chamberlin Taft. He attended Greenville Public Schools and Vermont Academy, graduating in 1944. He attended Dartmouth College with the class of 1949. He served in the Army and was discharged to take over the family businesses, the Greenville Electric Lighting Company and New Hampshire Electric Equipment Company.

He was a director of Wilton National Bank; chairman of the Greenville School Board for 17 years; a member and chairman of the Mascenic Regional School Board; and past president of the New Hampshire School Board Association, serving two terms. He was also the northeast director of the National School Boards Association.

He was a member of the New Hampshire Legislature from 1959 to 1966, and was the majority floor leader from 1965 to 1966. He served on the staff of Gov. Walter Peterson for four years as coordinator of federal funds and director of state planning. He was also a member of Gov. Peterson's military staff.

Later he was a vice president of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Hampshire; in addition to other administrative duties, he served as its legislative liaison for 21 years before his retirement in 1995.

He served on many boards and in many organizations: the Bethel-Souhegan Lodge; the American Legion Post in Greenville; as president of Easter Seals of New Hampshire; as a director of the United Way of Merrimack County and for two years as chairman of its annual fund drive; the New Hampshire Teen Institute in Concord for 10 years; chairman of the tourist committee of the Concord Chamber of Commerce; the board of directors at Havenwood/Heritage Heights in Concord; the Monadnock Country Club; past president of the Souhegan Country Club in New Ipswich; and a member of the Amoskeag Veterans. He served as president of the board of directors and as treasurer at Pebble Shores Condominium Association in Naples, Fla.; and served as vice president of the Governor Square Association in Peterborough.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, skiing, golfing, fishing and traveling.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eileen (Carroll) Taft; his son, William Chamberlin Taft and his wife, Barbara, of Medford, Ore.; his daughters, Mary McKaig Taft of Hooksett and Kimberley Carroll Taft Layman and her husband, Kenneth, of Nantucket, Mass.; his grandchildren, Hannah, Kyler and Lili of Medford, Ore.; his brother, Robert Taft of Peterborough; and many nieces and nephews.

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services:A celebration of his life will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 14 at the Monadnock Country Club, High Street, Peterborough. Relatives and friends are invited. Burial will be in the family lot in the Pleasant Street Cemetery in Greenville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society, Two Commerce Drive, Bedford 03110; or to the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter, P.O. Box 845945, Boston, MA 02284-5945. Jellison Funeral Home, Peterborough, is assisting the family.