Cook on Concord: Spring reflections

This was a season for a 60th high school reunion and overseas travel

When the then-publisher of NH Business Review asked me to write this column in 1992 or thereabouts, I asked him, “Why me?” His answer: “You seem to have an interesting life, so write about whatever you are doing or seeing.”

In the 3 ½ decades since, I hope I have fulfilled his wishes. Sitting down to write this installment, I reflected on the “interesting life” part. A few random examples follow:

At the end of April, I attended my 60th high school reunion, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, a small town outside of New York City 3 miles long and a half-mile wide. Of the 151 members of the class, 50 attended, which seems remarkable.

Our foreign exchange student came from Argentina, and one classmate and his wife came from Tokyo, with others from all over the country. Interestingly, five members of the class attended UNH, and class members attended the reunion from Keene, Bedford, Manchester and Rochester, NH.

Going to a small high school together, we experienced adolescence, something like going through a war, the Berlin Crisis, Cuban Missile Crisis and President Kennedy’s assassination. Our upper middle-class community, where most fathers got on the train to go to New York City jobs, gave us advantages of which we were not aware of at the time, with virtually all class members going to college.

A bond exists and was noted at the event, and as we looked at the New York skyline from the windows of our old high school, we realized the opportunities our parents were sure we had, and had a chance to reflect on what we did with them. We also got to give thanks for the good health and time those of us in attendance had, compared to those no longer alive or unable to attend.

Also earlier this spring, as reported previously, my wife and I had the chance to visit Greece and Turkey, and world events became real when sitting on the shore of the Bosphorus Straights in Istanbul, on the Asian side of that city, looking at the European side, and realizing that all shipping going into the Black Sea had to go through there, and not too far to the northwest was Ukraine, while on the other side of Turkey to the southeast, the war in Iran was raging. Actually being in a place teaches the geography of the world in a way reading or watching TV cannot do. It also brings the fact that these things are happening to real people in real places not too different from us, knowledge that seems to escape world leaders.

Reading newspapers every day, the Union Leader online and the New York Times in paper form, points out how important they are in providing common information for our state and nation. The demise of so many such unifying sources is a great concern. Obituaries, unfortunately, are one of the features checked more often, and two which I read today were typical, and also special.

One, of Harold A. LaValley, late of Newbury, recounted the remarkable 94 years of the founder of the LaValley/Middleton building supply and construction businesses in Newport and throughout the state.

This significant business has been the source of materials for construction of many New Hampshire homes and businesses, and continues to be a vital business. His civic and family engagement came through in the article.

The other obituary was of the Rev. Bruce Collard, 77, a Roman Catholic priest who, for over 30 years, was the Catholic chaplain at New Hampshire College and then Southern New Hampshire University. “Father Bruce,” as he was called by everyone, was a constant presence at university events, commencements, sporting contests and in the student center where his office was located. Bringing a spiritual presence in a low-key way, was a real service and ministry to students away from home, and Father Bruce did it well, with a smile, for generations of students.

Thinking about Father Bruce makes me reflect on the many clergymen who have had an effect on New Hampshire in ways I have encountered in the years since I came to UNH in 1966 after graduating from high school.

They include the pastor of the Durham Congregational Church, where I occasionally went to church during college, and who, along with Father Joe Desmond married my wife and me in Durham, and Father Lawless, the Catholic priest in Durham during college years who was pastor to so many UNH students, and also the remarkable clergymen I have had the opportunity to work with while representing churches and other nonprofits.

Father Placidus Riley, former Saint Anselm College president and trustee of New Hampshire College, Bishops Gendron, O’Neill and McCormack with whom I got to work while doing work for the Diocese of Manchester, along with Msgr. John Molan, Msgr. John Quinn, Bishop Francis Christian, and so many other intelligent and compassionate leaders. Truly remarkable men.

Recently, Father Ed Cardosa at Grace Episcopal Church and Rev. Don Larsen, who teamed up to combine the closing Gethsemane Luther Church with Grace a year ago, continue to inspire those involved in that work.

Clergy add much to the quality of our lives, and we should reflect on their contributions.

Brad Cook is a Manchester attorney. The views expressed in this column are his own. He can be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.