Harold Cecil Strong

1930 - 2021

Harold "Bo" Strong, 91 years old, passed peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on November 24, 2021.

Bo was born on September 10, 1930 to his late parents Cecil and Barbara Davis Strong. After graduating from New Boston High School, he joined the Air Force where he spent four years during the Korean War as a radar mechanic. He was drawn back to the quiet country life and Nanny's chicken farm where he later started his own family and led a humble life destined to be the fourth generation Strong to settle in New Boston.

Bo was passionate about his hometown and showed his love through his extensive years of dedicated public service. He volunteered a total of 43 years to the town of New Boston, selflessly serving 20 years as a Selectman, 22 years as a member of the Planning Board, and 41 years as an active member on the Fire Department. He was also an elected Fire Ward for 20 of those years and served on the Road Committee. Bo was a member of the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission for 40 years which he enjoyed very much. In 2015, Bo Strong was honored with the Raymond E. Closson Award for his significant contributions towards local and regional planning. Much of the way New Boston looks today is due to the decisions Bo made during his time on the town boards and commissions which was marked by his commonsense application of the rules and regulations. He always kept the best interests of the town at heart but never at the expense of the resident or business owners. Bo was loyal to his tasks, always kept his word, and never raised his voice -except maybe once when it came to cutting down the Christmas tree on the town common. By day, he earned a living with his backhoe and could be found driving it along the roads back and forth to jobs doing anything from leach fields to foundations and everything else in between. Nancy, his wife of 43 years, was often described by Bo's father as a "snow widow" for the countless hours Bo spent plowing on his State route in New Boston. He would no sooner come home from his route than go straight back out to plow his own mile-long driveway and then his kids' driveways. He never complained about the work which seemed to give him time to quietly reflect.

Bo loved spending time in town, not just the town hall and fire department but on Dodge's porch, his true-pleasure. One could often catch him sipping a coffee with his cronies talking shop or discussing the town's latest news and politics. He could give you advice on almost any topic and he seemed to have a sixth-sense predicting the weather with uncanny accuracy on how many inches of snow we were going to get!

Endearingly referred to as "Grandpa" or "Papa" by his grandchildren, he was most certainly a family man. As little tikes, they would all climb up in his lap and soak in his kind, supportive soul. He was proud of his family and would boast about them with a gentle easy-going smile. There was nothing he would not do for them and he was often found helping them before they'd even ask.

Bo was a man of simple pleasures, known to enjoy a cold root beer and a hotdog, or even partake in a bowl of ice cream to satisfy his sweet tooth. It was a tradition to head up to the Fryeburg Fair every fall and stop in at Reny's to get a new flannel for himself and check off the Christmas gift list for his family. He put his kids first, was always grateful to help, and never needed a thanks. He found peace living a modest life amongst the trees and Lady Slippers. Bo understood the joy animals brought his family and part of his daily routine was feeding the horses, chickens and geese. He also picked up hay from local fields to load up the barn every winter.

Bo never formally retired, working right up until the day his body said enough. It was hard for him to quit doing the things he loved and work was always one of them. When climbing into the backhoe and stepping up the makeshift ladder of his truck to scrape the salt and sand into his sander got too difficult for his old bones, he realized his strong spirit would have to overcome his diminishing physical strength. Although we will all remember his last years with us, his character and spirit from his earlier days will live on. May he rest easy, looking down on us from his green fields behind the gate.

Bo is survived by his wife Nancy, his two daughters Sheila O'Brien and husband Richard, and Lynn Strong; two sons Nathan and his wife Nicola, and Jonathan and his wife Heather; his beloved grandchildren, Connor and Patrick O'Brien, Alex Nichols, Anna, Emma, and Molly Strong, Jillian Strong and Matt and Kendra Dapolito; and his brother Michael Strong of Manchester. He was predeceased by son Paul Strong, brothers Jack Strong and George Strong, and sister Jean Strong.

The family would like to extend a thank you to all that have reached out offering support. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.

Services: Calling hours are Friday, December 10, 2021 from 5-7 pm with a Celebration of Life at 7 pm to follow at French & Rising Funeral Home, 17 South Mast Street, Goffstown, NH. For more information or to sign an online guestbook please visit www.frenchandrising.com