William H. Dennison

William H. Dennison 1932-2008 KEENE, N.H. William H. Dennison, 75, of 110 Arch Street, Keene, died Monday morning at the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene following a short illness. Born June 5, 1932 in Shelburne Falls, Mass., son of Charles H. and Doris Mann, he grew up in Griswoldville, Mass and Brattleboro, Vt. A graduate of Brattleboro High School, the Maine and New Hampshire School of Banking, he had attended the graduate school of Savings Banking at Brown University. Mr. Dennison began his long banking career with the Vermont Savings Bank now known as Chittenden Bank in Brattleboro in 1950 and became a mortgage officer with the Keene Savings Bank know the Ocean Bank in 1966. He returned to Brattleboro to become the managing officer of the Brattleboro Savings and Loan Association before joining the Cheshire Country Savings Bank, then known as CFX, Bank of New Hampshire and now known as TD Banknorth as treasurer in 1973. He rose through the organization as Vice President, Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President and Banking Partner/Community Banking. He was elected trustee of the bank in 1988. Additionally he served as treasurer of CFX Corporation, (formerly Cheshire Financial Corporation.) since it's formation in 1986 and had previously served as a member of the Holding Company's Board of Directors in it's early years. He was a former director of the New Hampshire Association of Mutual Savings Banks, a member of the Financial Managers Society having served on a number of their national committees, and was a charter member of the New England Bank Marketing Chapter. He served on numerous boards and committees in both the Brattleboro and Keene areas. He was a member of the Keene Board of Assessors, Director and former president and treasurer of the Keene Downtown Housing Corporation, member of the Keene Development Commission, former Incorporator of the Cheshire County YMCA, previous member of the New Hampshire Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy Council, in 1997 he was appointed by the governor to the Housing and Community Development Planning Council in addition to numerous charitable organizations and fund drives. Mr. Dennison had been a Trustee of Public Funds for both the city of Keene and the town of Brattleboro, formerly Chairman and commissioner of the Keene Housing Authority, Trustee of the Keene Public Library and an elected town meeting representative in Brattleboro. In 1995 he was selected by the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce for their Community Service Award (Citizen of the Year.) He was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Keene where he had served as treasurer, and had been a member of the Chester Rotary Club, director and member of the Keene Lions Club, the Brattleboro and Vermont Jaycees, Keene Salvation Army Advisory Board, Director and officer of the Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce and had served on committees for the Keene School District and Supervisory Union #29 to study year-round schools and Supervisory Union organizations. He was a member of the AARP, and the Keene Senior Citizen Center. Mr. Dennison was a 50 plus year member of the Brattleboro Lodge of Elks No. 1499 as well as a member of the American Institute of Banking for over 40 years. He leaves his wife of 52 years, Patricia Holden Dennison, of Keene whom he married Sept,. 17, 1955 in Chester; a son, John M. Dennison, of Troy; two daughters, Jeanette M. Kononan, of Peru, N.Y. and Joanne M. Gall of Boise, Idaho; a brother, Charles H. Dennison, of Sebring, Fla.; and a sister, Linda LoPizzo of Pembroke; five grandchildren, one great-grandchild; a nephew and several nieces. FUNERAL NOTICE: Services for Mr. Dennison will be held at the Grace United Methodist Church, Court Street, Keene, Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. Friends are invited. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. Calling hours will be held at the FLETCHER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SOCIETY, 33 Marlboro Street, Keene, Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers, gifts be made in memory of Mr. Dennison to the Grace United Methodist Church, 34 Court Street, Keene, NH 03431, or to the Kurn Hattin Home, P.O. Box 127, Westminster, VT 05158, or to the Cheshire County YMCA, 32 Lake Street, Swanzey, NH 03446.