Evan Welch

Evan Brook Welch

Evan Brook Welch, 79, passed peacefully on March 10, 2025 in New Hampshire. Evan was a very unique individual—a musician, entrepreneur, a pilot (of his own hand-built flying machine), a billiards master, a problem solver, a mechanic, an author, a poet, and a very imaginative, inspirational, naturally creative, hilarious, caring, and sentimental man. He loved family, friends, family parties, talking, laughing, music, good food, single malt scotch, billiards, cribbage, pontificating, philosophizing, and taking in the view.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 7, 1945 to Thomas D. and Marian W. Welch, he grew up in Marblehead as the youngest sibling to his sister Frances “Fraffie,” brother Tom and sister Annie “Mouse,” and spent summers with family in Vinalhaven, Maine.

He graduated high school from Taft School in Connecticut and attended Claremont College in California. In 1967 he enlisted in the Navy as a trumpet player in the U.S. Naval Band, serving on the he U.S.S. Forrestal from 1967-1970. After the Navy, he and his friends formed The Sounds of Swing, a 16-piece big band, playing for dances and parties. What started as a gig band became a weekly music club which he played with for 50 years.

He married Sherry Miller in 1973 and in 1977 they moved from Ipswich to Medway, Massachusetts, and had two children—Mali (daughter) and Seth (son). Here he founded his business, Welch Fluorocarbon in 1985. In 1989, they moved the family to Lee, New Hampshire and the business to Dover where it flourished.

On Saint Patrick’s Day in 2002, Evan married Louise Wiley, and gained stepdaughters Heather Nowlan, Katie Behner, and stepson Kevin Wiley. Evan and Louise resided happily in Northwood, New Hampshire for the next 23 years.

Evan was steadfast and fully dedicated to everything he did. He believed that anything worth doing was worth doing well, and by doing so, he created his own success. He did this in both his business and personal life. He loved playing his trumpet in The Sounds of Swing, and revolved his every week around Tuesday nights when he and the band would meet to play music, followed by a few games of pool. He was an absolutely incredible billiards player, and though he competed from time to time, he always said he only played for fun (but he could run the table like you’ve never seen).

Evan loved toys and gadgets, and dreamed of flying. One of his “toys” was a Six Chuter ultralight—a single-person motorized parachute, which he built from a kit in his garage. He mowed an airstrip in the field behind his house in Lee and proceeded to fly around town. He went to “fly-ins” with others, perfecting their crafts, and taking wonderful aerial photos—all to the amazement of onlookers.

Evan had a tremendous and joyous spirit—anyone who spent time with him can attest to it. He truly lived for the moment. He told a lot of jokes and made people laugh upon every encounter. Gifted in sentiment and wisdom, he had very wise advice and profound thoughts. Evan was a writer‚ both in poetry and non-fiction. He wrote two books in his lifetime, related to philosophy and his business acumen, as well as countless poems and limericks—ranging from sweet and thoughtful to hilarious and bawdy.

Evan is survived by his wife Louise Welch; brother Tom Welch and wife Claudia; sister Annie Bartol; daughter Mali Welch and husband Derek Lombardi; son Seth Welch and wife Taryn; stepchildren Heather Nowlan; Katie Behner; Kevin Wiley and wife Jill; grandchildren Ethan, Elsy, Monet, Teelin, Louisa, Chet, Norah, and Hazel; and so many other family members, cousins, and friends. You know who you are, he loved and cherished every moment spent with each of you. Evan was predeceased by sister Frances “Fraffie” Welch, brother-in-law Sam Bartol, and stepdaughter Heather’s husband Lawrence “Doobie” Nowlan.

Services will be held privately. Please memorialize Evan in your own way. Treat a friend to a Guinness, share a game of pool, play some big band music on the jukebox, pay for the guy behind you, or write a poem for a friend. He spread a lot of happiness and touched a lot of people in his life. If you were to ask him what you could give in return, he would simply say to “pay it forward.”

Thanks for the love, Evan—see you on the other side.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, Hampton.