Jerome Thomas Light Jr.

1933 - 2025

Jerome Thomas Light, Jr, of Tuftonboro, NH died peacefully August 13, 2025. He was 92.

Born March 14, 1933 at Stanford hospital in Palo Alto, California, he and his identical twin were the youngest of four brothers. His parents, the late Jerome Thomas Light, Sr., and Dorothy (Burwell) Light raised him in Stockton, CA.

He worked summers as a forest ranger in Lake Tahoe before attending Idaho State University and graduating with a degree in Wildlife Biology. He enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Fort Bliss, TX. While performing avalanche training in Alta, Utah, he met his beloved late wife of 60 years, Ethelanne (Anne) Light of Egg Harbor, NJ.

The couple married in 1960 and began their life together in California where Jerry was a forest fire Smoke Jumper and fire crew leader, and tower guard in the Sierra Nevada's. They then relocated to Montana to raise their family on a small ranch. Professionally, Jerome was a Wildlife Biologist, and he also taught classes at Montana State University and served as President of the Bozeman, MT chapter of the Audubon Society. In his spare time, he was a baseball and soccer coach, and volunteered with his wife Anne in the Bozeman hospice program. After retiring, Jerry and Anne moved to Massachusetts to manage a small family farm in Sherborne, MA before retiring in New Hampshire.

In retirement, Jerry and Anne traveled widely - including serving as missionaries in Mongolia, South Korea, Ecuador, Peru, Norway. Locally, they served as volunteers with New Start Newborns in Wolfeboro, NH. Jerry and Anne also served as Conservation Rangers in Fallon, Nevada, and on Nantucket Island for eight summers. They taught preservation and respect for all things wild, at every opportunity.

Jerry and Anne also joined a hiking club and climbed all of the major peaks in the New England area, including summiting Mount Washington in their 70's via the perilous Tuckerman's Ravine route. Jerry also served on the conservation society for Tuftonboro, volunteered for many years at Lake Wentworth to control invasive plants, and he thoroughly enjoyed singing in the Clearlakes Choral in Wolfeboro, NH.

Jerry was preceded in death by his three siblings: the late Thomas Light (sp: Jane Light) of Schenectady NY, Alvin Light (sp: Jill Strohn) of San Francisco, CA, Elliot Light of E. Lansing MI, and by his own wife of 60 years, Ethelanne (Anne) Light. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Rose Light, MA and by his three children: Karen Light of RI, Heidi Light Deacon of NH, and Brett Light of UT. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Sarah DesRosier and husband Rob Hails in AZ, Meganne DesRosier in WA, William Deacon, Charles Deacon and wife Natalie Deacon, and Elisabeth Deacon of NH. Jerry also joyfully anticipated the birth of his first great grandchild in early 2026.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Service on September 20, 2025 at First Christian Church, 83 North Main Street, Wolfeboro, NH 03894. The service will be at 11:00 AM.