Thomas W. Golter

Thomas W. Golter
May 16,1937 to May 25, 2025
Dover - After having spent his 88th Birthday party with his family, kids, grandkids and great grandkids at Newick's eating fried clams, Tom Golter passed away the next week on May 25, 2025. He was born on May 16, 1937 to Electa and John B. Golter in Portsmouth NH. He graduated from Portsmouth Senior High School in 1955.
Tom served in the Air Force for 8 years from 1955 to 1959 active duty and as a Reservist from 1959 to 1963. From 1956 – 1958 he was stationed in Japan at an Air Defense Control Center. He loved telling stories of when he was in the underground building with the Russians above, and talking about all his buddies he met over the years. He was definitely a storyteller!
He returned to the states, stationed at Bucks Harbor Radar site near Machias, Maine, where he met his wife, Teddy Clark Golter. They moved to New Castle, NH where they raised 4 daughters. He ran his business, Golter Plumbing and Heating from 1973-1988 as a Master Plumber, licensed in ME and NH, after having worked for his dad who owned the business before him from 1959-1973. His nephew Jim Golter continues on with the family business and owns J. Golter Plumbing and Heating Co. Tom also worked at the Navy Yard as a pipe fitter where he had a pet squirrel and fed him peanuts on his shoulder. He was a volunteer Firefighter in New Castle and was one of the first ones at the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel fire in 1969, and climbed the ladder with a hose on the roof until the engines came from everywhere. He also rescued 2 cats from a fire on Wild Rose Lane.
He was also proud of his role as the Commissioner and Chairman of the New Castle Water Dept., as well as Plumbing Inspector, while running his plumbing and heating business. He loved telling stories about the interesting homes he worked in and one of his favorites was the Rundlet May house in Portsmouth. He could tell you what kind of plumbing most homes in New Castle and Portsmouth had and if they had water in the basement or not.
In his earlier days, he loved to visit his brother Jack Golter in Sagamore Grove on the Creek, Portsmouth, and arm wrestle. He arm wrestled his twin nephews, Jim and Joe and would even win! His brother Jack even got him to arm wrestle Mo Baker, a world arm wrestling champ and it is rumored that Tom beat him!
He moved to Dover with his partner, Terry Snook. They loved to travel and also collect things from wherever they went. They have a wonderful back yard where he loved to watch the wildlife, especially the deer. He also enjoyed striper fishing with his nephew John Golter and would talk about how many giant stripers he caught off his boat in all his secret places. He was definitely a talker!
Family meant the world to him. His 4 daughters, Terri, Sue, Lea and Amy were the lights of his life. He was always interested in keeping up on what they were doing and their recent accomplishments, as well as knowing everything about the grandkids and great grandkids. He was so proud of his grandkids, Ryan and Sean being on Dover and Rye Fire Dept's, Ciara a registered dietitian, Christina getting her pilots license and in charge of the pilot training program, and Rain is an equestrian, and horse trainer who has worked for Olympic riders.
He is survived by his 4 daughters, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Terri Golter and husband Tom LaMontagne live in New Castle, NH and their daughter Christina and fiancée Ben Bowers live in Portsmouth, as well their son Sean LaMontagne with his wife Amy live in Portsmouth. Sue Golter lives in New Castle and takes pride in taking care of the family house and yard. Lea Golter Chase and husband Sam Chase live in Portsmouth, NH, son Ryan Chase, wife Katie, and their children Everett, Rosalie (Rosie) and Marcella (Cella) live in Dover, daughter Ciara and husband Nick Honaker live in Rochester.
Amy Golter Anderson lives in Gulfport FL., her daughter Rain and husband Ben Leahy live in Virginia with their horses and dogs.
Tom was predeceased by his brother Jack Golter, Portsmouth, NH and his parents John B. Golter and Electa Garside Golter of Portsmouth, and grandparents Ma and Pa, Cecilia M. and John B. Golter Sr. who developed Elwyn Park, Portsmouth, as well as "Golterville" at the back gate of Pease in Portsmouth. All the street names are named after the Golter family ie. Doris Ave. is named after his Aunt Doris Golter.
He is also survived by his favorite "cousin in crime", Janice Hanley Desjardins of Eliot, Me., his beloved niece & nephews John, Joe, Jim Golter and Sharon Golter Fagan and their families.
Family Services will be held privately in the Oceanside Cemetery in New Castle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the New England
Hemophilia Association's (NEHA) Family Camp. A check may be sent to their office or made online at: NEHA 347 Washington Street, Suite 401, Dedham, MA 02026 or www.nehemophilia.org (Please note "Hemophilia Family Camp" on donation)