Manchester, New Hampshire
1942 - 2008
Dr. John R. Hussey, 65, of Manchester, NH, died April 4, 2008, surrounded by his loving family, after a period of failing health.
Born in Manchester on Dec. 27, 1942, he was the son of John J. and Mary E. (Ryan) Hussey. He was a lifelong resident of the Queen City.
To thousands of students at Manchester Central High School, he was Dr. Hussey, Latin teacher and popular classroom raconteur. To tens of thousands who read the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News, he was sports reporter John R. Hussey, an entertaining and informative source for what was going on in Granite State athletics.
In the Union Leader newsroom, he was simply "Doc" — a newsman whose expertise extended to city and state politics, whose mentoring skills aided generations of young reporters, and whose signature call, "The papers are OUT!" announced the arrival of each new edition.
Dr. Hussey graduated from Central High in 1960 and earned a bachelor of arts degree, magna cum laude, from St. Anselm College in 1964. He earned a masters degree in classics from Boston College in 1966 and a Ph.D. from Tufts University in 1972. He was a graduate teaching assistant at both schools, and he enjoyed noting that he had taught former Clinton Administration cabinet member and current New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson at Tufts. Dr. Hussey also earned an M. Ed in school administration from the University of New Hampshire in 1980.
Dr. Hussey also had college teaching experience at both UMass-Boston and UNH-Manchester, and for 31 years he taught Latin at Central. He also was chairman of the foreign language department at Central from 1976-86.
He was a member of the New Hampshire Classical Association, the Classical Association of New England, and the American Classical League.
Dr. Hussey was a member of the Manchester Education Association, the New Hampshire Education Association, and the National Education Association. He was a proud member of The Newspaper Guild and the Communication Workers of America.
For more than 48 years, beginning as high school student, Dr. Hussey
worked for the Union Leader and Sunday News, primarily covering sports, with occasional forays into general news. His particular areas of interest and expertise were college sports and golf, and his news judgment in the former led to one of the biggest scoops in Union Leader history.
In 2001, while researching a story on the appointment of UNH graduate George O’Leary as head football coach at Notre Dame University, Dr. Hussey discovered that a claim in O’Leary’s biography — that he had earned three varsity letters as a UNH football player — may have been false. Further reporting by the Union Leader revealed that O’Leary’s resume included numerous false claims, and he was forced to resign at Notre Dame.Dr. Hussey also reported that Tom Coughlin would be hired as head football coach at Boston College before Boston papers had the news, and he reported on the hiring of Stan Spirou as men’s basketball coach at New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University) and Don Brown as head football coach at Plymouth State College (now Plymouth State University) before the respective schools were able to issue a press release.
Dr. Hussey was an elector for the Heisman Trophy and interviewed four of its winners. As a golf writer he interviewed Jack Nicklaus and Gene Sarazen, winners of the four major professional tournaments. He also was a longtime member of New Hampshire’s McDonough Golf Scholarship Foundation, and for many years he authored a weekly bowling column, "Bowling ’em Over."
In addition to Nicklaus and Sarazen, Dr. Hussey included among his most notable interview subjects boxer Joe Louis; Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr; Boston Celtics greats Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn; baseball hall-of-famer Brooks Robinson; and four Heisman Trophy winners, Ernie Davis, Paul Hornung, Jim Plunkett and Joe Bellino. He also interviewed some of the most famous sports figures in recent New Hampshire sports events, including Olympic swimming gold medalist Jenny Thompson of Dover, World Cup skiing champion Bode Miller of Franconia and well-known horse owner Peter Fuller, whom Dr. Hussey visited at Fuller’s famous Seacoast horse farm.
Dr. Hussey’s great institutional knowledge of the city, state politics and local sports made him the "go-to guy" for decades of Union Leader and Sunday News obituary editors, and his extensive sources also enabled him to be the first to report some general-news, including the hiring of Dr. Joanne Leitzel as president of UNH.
Family members include his wife, Millicent (Klein) Hussey of Manchester, NH; a son, John Patrick of Lexington, KY, two step-sons, Christopher Reade of Manchester, NH and Samuel Reade of Tacoma, Wash., and his step-daughter, Jessica (Reade) Weiss of Andover, Mass.; three step-grandchildren Tyler, Alexandra and Adam; two brothers, Dr. William D. Hussey of Henderson, Nev., and Michael F. Hussey of Washington, DC; a sister, M. Susan Dolan of Ocala, Fla., and formerly of Manchester; and several nieces and nephews.
Services: Calling hours Sunday from 3 to 7 PM at the Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 537 Union Street, corner of Concord Street, Manchester, NH.
The funeral will be held Monday with a mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at 10AM in Saint Catherine Church, Webster Street, Manchester, NH.
Burial will take place in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Bedford, NH.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Richard D. McDonough Golf Scholarship Foundation, 16 Salmon Street, Manchester, NH 03104.
For more information or to view the on-line guest registry, please visit:www.connorhealy.com.
I knew him as a student in 1983. He was a great mentor and lover of culture and the city of Manchester. We talked alot about history and politics and in many ways he inspired me. He was my favorite teacher in High School and I think back about him with fondness. May he rest in peace of the savior.
Jacques Chretien
C. Jacques Chretien
August 07, 2020 | P, VA | Student
I am just now reading of John's passing. A retired Latin teacher, I knew John in the early years of his career as a Latin teacher both being members of the NH Classical Association. I taught Latin at Pinkerton Academy while John was at Central. John was very reserved and quiet. Everyone loved him. I know his colleagues will miss him terribly. My sympathy to his family.
Ellen (Kelliher) Porterfield
April 13, 2008 | Winchester, VA
My deepest sympathies to the Hussey family. I just found out about Dr. J's passing. Although I did not have him as a teacher in the 70's, he always graced the halls of Central HS with his great wit. My son is presently taking Latin in HS and if his teacher is half the teacher that Dr. Hussey was, he will be very blessed indeed. The consummate gentleman and wonderful man. Rest in peace Dr. Hussey, and may the angels lead you to the Heavenly paradise.
Claudette Roy Dachowski
April 11, 2008
My best to all the Hussey family.
Deb Heath-Rogers
April 07, 2008 | Peterborough, NH
My ddepest to John's family.
I was a classmmate of John's at
Central .We shared some classes and Activeties . I recall his energy
with things that interested him. It certainly appears that it was well
directed. My sympathies for your and Manchester's loss.
Peter Michaud
April 06, 2008 | Hinsdale, NH
It was my great privilege to meet and know "Doc" during my 32 years at Central. In that time, I came to know John as such a marvelous person, one who will be remembered for his wit, his being a spectacular raconteur, and for his kindness. And, as many, I thoroughly enjoyed his political stories which often provided "insider" information! Finally, I extend sincere sympathies to Milly and to John's entire family at this sad time.
Will Thomas
April 06, 2008 | Auburn, NH
Always a Gentleman, Professional, and Helpful. Few call Me Charlie, Doc was one. He will be remembered as One of a Kind.
Chuck Schadick
April 06, 2008 | Keene, NH
My deepest sympathy to John's family. I was a classmate at Central High School and graduated with John in 1960. He sat in front of me in Latin class our freshman year and was a continuing presence as we continued our Latin studies for 2-3 more years. He was already demonstrating his great love for the Latin language, even at age 14! I also saw him at our reunions and always enjoyed hearing about what he was doing. He was a wonderful and kind man and I remember him fondly.
Joanna Starr
April 05, 2008 | Boston, MA
I had the privilege of knowing John R. Hussey from the time he came to work at the Union Leader until my retirement in 1987. He was a great guy and his talents were many. "Doc" will be missed by his legion of friends and former students and co-workers.
Dick Cummings
April 05, 2008 | Manchester, NH
