John Francis Waltrup III

John Francis Waltrup III, 51, of Keene, New Hampshire, husband of Catlin "Cat" McLaughlin, passed peacefully early in the morning of Friday, October 17th, 2025, after an extended battle with cancer.
He was born to the late John F. Walrup, Jr. and the late Linda Dianne (Windsor) Allen. John was also loved by both his stepmother, the late Patricia Ritter-Waltrup, and his stepfather, Richard Allen.
John grew up in New Hampshire, spending time with both his father's family and his mother's family. On his father's side, John leaves behind stepbrothers James Ritter and David Ritter (wife Elaine), and stepsister Amy Boyer Morris (husband Eric). On his mother's side, John leaves behind his stepbrother Richard S. Allen (wife Heidi), and his stepsister Kathleen Allen. John also leaves behind close friend Aaron Smith (wife Priscilla Fox), with whom he had many adventures around the world, such as driving across Austria to go and try a particular pastry from a particular bakery.
For high school, John attended Northfield Mount Hermon in Gill, Massachusetts. He went on to Johnson & Wales University, where he studied baking and pastry arts. He eventually completed both bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in secondary teaching at UNH Manchester.
After working as a bakery manager, John became a middle school social studies teacher. John taught at Elm Street Middle School in Nashua for over ten years. As a teacher, John was known for both his strong pedagogical practices and his steady, calming presence that students experiencing personal challenges found to be soothing.
He met his wife, Cat, when she took a long-term substitute teaching position at his school. Their first date was during the first weekend of the COVID pandemic, when most businesses were closed. As a result, John decided that they should go for a walk in the woods of a nature reserve. They talked as they hiked, and by the end of the date they both felt that they had a special connection.
They were married on July 10th, 2022, by John's stepfather, Richard, during a very simple wedding that perfectly expressed who they were as a couple. John's calm presence became the defining quality of their home, where together they raised Cat's teenage son, Alex. Through his consistency and patience, John forged a strong bond with Alex, who legally changed his name to Alexander L. Waltrup-McLaughlin.
John loved being at home with his family and pets, which included two house rabbits and Edgar, the family dog. He enjoyed cooking family dinners, especially when they were for special occasions, such as Alex's middle school graduation. His taste in music was broad, ranging from Metallica to Irish folk. John's hobbies included stained glass and learning languages, especially Spanish. He was an avid gardener with a particular fondness for tomatoes and raspberries. His favorite flowers were tulips. Not surprisingly, he was a connoisseur of artisan bread and fine pastries, which he preferred to eat with strong coffee and great conversation.
John loved planning a family vacation to Disney World, where he applied his skills planning overnight field trips to Gettysburg and other historic locations to create a comprehensive itinerary that was both detailed and thoughtfully planned. The memories of that trip will be with Cat and Alex forever.
Cat and Alex would like to thank the oncology team at both Cheshire Medical Center and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for giving them two years with John after his diagnosis. In addition, they would also like to thank the staff at the CMC Thompson Unit for their kindness and compassion during John's final days.
John's Celebration of Life will take place in the spring, when tulips are in bloom. Baked goods will definitely be served.