Peter A. Meneghin M.D.

BRENTWOOD - Peter A. Meneghin, M.D., died Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at Rockingham County Nursing Home after a period of failing health.

He was born Sept. 25, 1920, in Passaic, N.J., the son of Peter and Emilia (Miola) Meneghin.

Dr. Meneghin came to Hampton in 1957, where he enjoyed family medicine for 35 years - always sporting a bow tie and/or beret, and was known for making house calls.

He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Dorothy Meneghin of Newmarket; one daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Chadd Lalime of Kensington; six grandchildren, Chelsea, Chadd Jr. and Peter Lalime of Kensington, Gordon Murphy of Yarmouth, Maine, Grace Murphy of Scarborough, Maine, and Clifford Murphy of Baltimore, Md.; six great-grandchildren; two stepsons, Peter Hanson of Dover and David Hanson of Kittery Point, Maine; one stepdaughter, Elizabeth Fuller and her husband Michael of Kittery Point; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by three brothers, Pliny, Angelo and John; and one sister, Gemma (Meneghin) Black.

WE REMEMBER: Dr. Meneghin was born Sept. 25, 1920, in Passaic, N.J., the youngest of five children of Peter and Emilia (Miola) Meneghin, who had both emigrated from Italy.

He was the quarterback of the University of New Hampshire's first undefeated and untied football team, in 1942.

Following his 1937 graduation from Clifton High School, he and several other Garden State gridiron players piled into a Model A Ford headed for Canyon, Texas. At the wheel was legendary coach and trainer Tony Dougal, who had hand-picked the little band to bolster his new team at West Texas State College, Canyon. It was an eventful journey. En route, the overtaxed car rolled over more than once, so by the time they arrived in Canyon the car sported a makeshift roof of tar paper nailed to the auto's frame. When Dougal accepted a coaching job at UNH, his quarterback was part of the package.

He was drafted in early 1943, completing his World War II service in the U.S. Army Medical Administrative Corps.

Released from active service in 1946 as a first lieutenant, he earned his bachelor of science degree from UNH in 1947. (Dougal left UNH in 1947 for Dartmouth College; then was athletic trainer at Boston University, where a new training complex bears his name.)

A 1951 graduate of Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Meneghin practiced general medicine in Ridgecrest and Santa Cruz, Calif., before moving to Hampton. During much of that time he delivered at least a baby a week, was active in pediatric care and served as team doctor for the Winnacunnet High School football team. He was also known for making house calls.

He was on the staff of Exeter Hospital and Portsmouth Regional Hospital, was a member of the N.H. Medical Society, and served terms as president of both the Rockingham Medical Society and Seacoast Medical Emeriti Society.

He married Margaret Carroll Rand of Newcastle in 1944. They enjoyed skiing, bridge, tennis, square dancing and travel. Divorced in 1975, he later married Jane Jackson Hanson of North Hampton. The two were divorced in 2009. He maintained a close relationship with his stepson, Peter Hanson of Dover.

A founding member of the Seacoast Indoor Tennis Club, he was an avid UNH Wildcats football and hockey fan. He enjoyed art history, was an active member of the Seacoast Artist Association and, until December, played bridge twice weekly with a group in North Hampton.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held Thursday, Sept. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter, followed by a memorial service at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Seacoast Artist Association, 225 Water St., Exeter, NH 03833.

To sign an online guest book, visit www.brewittfuneralhome.com.