Jeremy Waldron

Jeremy Waldron

PORTSMOUTH - Jeremy Richard Waldron, 91, a lifetime resident of Portsmouth, died peacefully at Portsmouth Hospital on November 21, in the presence of his wife and daughter.

Born July 7, 1921, to N.H. Attorney General Jeremy R. Waldron and Helen (Walker), he graduated from Portsmouth High School (1939) and Dartmouth (1943).

He served in the 45th Infantry "Thunderbird" Division, U.S. Army in Italy, France and Germany, suffering a wound at Anzio in 1944. Awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, the experiences of his Intelligence & Reconnaissance unit were documented in a published account by his friend and fellow "Ironhead" the late Joseph E. Garland. He was present at the liberation of Dachau.

After Harvard Law School, he joined his late father's firm (now Boynton, Waldron, Doleac, Woodman & Scott) practicing until retirement in 1995.

In the 1950s and 60s, Waldron was a key proponent of the historic restoration project that we now know as Strawbery Banke. Much of Portsmouth's unique character and charm are directly the result of this initiative, which saved countless historic buildings at the city's core.

In his distinguished career as an attorney and civic leader, Waldron served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the State and Rockingham County Bar Associations, the Professional Conduct Committee of the N.H. Supreme Court, the First National Bank of Portsmouth, the Mechanics and Federal Fire Societies, the Wentworth Home, the Warner House, the YMCA, Little Harbor Chapel, and the North Church. He was active in the Republican Party, serving as Portsmouth City Chairman in the 1950s, and later as Rockingham County Chairman. He also was a delegate to the 1956 National Convention.

He was an avid golfer and a member of the Portsmouth Country Club; member of Portsmouth Rotary and a recipient of Rotary's Paul Harris Fellowship Award. He was also a member of the Portsmouth Historical Society and St. Andrew's Lodge No. 56 F & AM in Portsmouth.

Waldron is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Joan (Shaw) Waldron, daughter Kimberly Levy, her husband Jonathan, grand-daughter MacKenzie, sister, Ann Allmendinger, sister-in-law, Patricia S. Davis; three nephews, Robert H. Davis, his wife Alice, Richard Allmendinger, his wife Terry, Scott Allmendinger, his wife Ayn; and a niece, Nancy Walker, her husband Bruce.

Services: A private burial service will take place at Harmony Grove Cemetery, Portsmouth, with a memorial service to be scheduled in 2013. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Strawbery Banke, the North Church, Warner House or Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Please visit: www.jvwoodfuneralhome.comm to sign the online guest book, send a private condolence, gift or sympathy card. Arrangements are under the direction of the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home – Buckminster Chapel.

Visit www.fosters.com/obits for an online guest book.