Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Jeffrey Haight Obituary
Nashua, NH — Jeffrey C. Haight of Nashua, New Hampshire, died on January 20th, 2022 at the age of 82. He lived with cancer for 18 months before he passed peacefully with family surrounding him.
Jeff was born in 1939 in Schenectady, New York. He was raised by his parents Raymond and Alyce Haight alongside his brother David in upstate New York.
He attended Hamilton College and earned his PhD in history at the University of Rochester. After finishing his thesis he lived in New York City where he was a professor at Queens College. A position at the now defunct Windham College brought him to Vermont in the 1970s.
In an effort to monetize his unending love for books, Jeff was also a bookseller for many years. In 1977 he purchased Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, NH. He owned the store for 17 years.
Jeff made New Hampshire his home for the rest of his life. He lived in Warner for 15 years with his family, and later settled in Nashua with his partner Denise Wagner.
Over the course of his time in New Hampshire he taught at multiple universities including The University of New Hampshire, both the Durham and Manchester campuses, New England College, and Franklin Pierce University. A teacher to his core, he was still lecturing and grading papers in late December.
An early adopter of jogging, he later took up cycling and rode 20 miles several times a week until only a few months before his death.
He leaves behind his daughters Alissa Haight Carlton, Catherine Haight and their spouses Gavin Carlton and Shayar Bhansali. He is also survived by his partner Denise Wagner, his step-children Stephen and Sarah MacMillin, their spouses Pamela Brissette and Olivier Doeff, his grandchildren Gabriel & Lucas Carlton, and his step-grandchildren Maya & Olivia MacMillin and Jourdain, Cecilia, & Noah Doeff.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ACLU. A memorial service will be planned for a later date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Jeffrey Haight
5 Entries
Sharon L McCormick
March 12, 2023
I worked for Jeff at Gibson's Bookstore. I always enjoyed his love of learning. I am so saddened to learn of his passing.
Jonathan Lynch
August 23, 2022
I applied to UNH Manchester after earning my GED and working a string of dead-end retail jobs. By the grace of Admissions, I was accepted as a part-time student. I took an introductory history class under Professor Haight on a whim. That course and every course I took with him thereafter fundamentally changed my life. From Aristotle to Machiavelli, Hobsbawm to Thucydides, he gave me and others a sound intellectual foundation on which to build a coherent worldview. His passing leaves the world a dimmer, dumber place and he will be profoundly missed.
Marc Brenman
January 28, 2022
Jeff Haight was a history professor of mine at Windham College. He was a terrific teacher and person. I'm sorry I lost touch with him.
Ed Martin
January 22, 2022
Professor Haight taught me history at New England College back in the late 80s & early 90s. In fact, my senior year of college, I had an independent study with him. I always enjoyed his classes, and I enjoyed him. He was a quiet, unassuming man who, at the same time, was distinguished and elegant. I found everything he said to be fascinating either because of the material he covered or the way in which he spoke of it. I had a number of professors while at NEC, but he was the one whose opinion mattered most to me. Quite frankly, I thought he was exceptional. He never talked down to students and his knowledge was vast. Despite his superiority in all matters related to history - and well deserved - he also possessed a simple manner. The way he would wipe his face and whiskers with an ever-present handkerchief, or chuckle at his own humor despite it passing over most of our heads, gave him an endearing quality. While I hadn't seen him since I graduated 30 years ago, I have thought of him often since. He was the one professor I respected more than any other, and the one whose respect I wanted to earn above all others. He was a remarkable man and I am fortunate to have had him as a professor and to have known him. Please accept my deepest condolences. I am very sorry for your loss.
Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results
Make a Donation
in Jeffrey Haight's name
Memorial Events
for Jeffrey Haight
How to support Jeffrey's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Jeffrey Haight's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
