New Hampshire
Notable New Hampshire Deaths: Funeral Director Eric Rochette
InDepthNH.org scans the websites of New Hampshire funeral homes each week and selects at random some of our friends, relatives and neighbors to feature in this column. The people listed here passed away during the previous weeks and have some public or charitable connection to their community. InDepthNH.org is now offering obituaries through the Legacy.com service. We view this as part of our public service mission. Click here or on the Obituaries tab at the top of our home page to learn more. And if you know of someone from New Hampshire who should be featured in this column, please send your suggestions to NancyWestNews@gmail.com.
Mary M. Blaisdell, 84, of Concord, died May 10, 2026. She was a lifetime achievement honoree of the East Concord Lamplighters, a member of the Concord School Board, and organized Concord High School Class of 1960 reunions as class treasurer. (Bennett Funeral Home)
Dorothy (Meade) Campbell, 84, of Grafton, died May 7, 2026. She had been a teacher and principal at Indian River and had served as selectman and treasurer for the Town of Grafton. (Chadwick Funeral & Cremation Service)
Socrates James Chaloge, 90, of Manchester, died May 7, 2026. He owned Leslie Studio, which he once operated with his father, Perry Chaloge. photographing more than 5,000 weddings throughout Manchester, in addition to countless portraits, schools, and pageants. His original oil photography portraits may still be viewed at the Hampton Historical Society, where he was recognized for photographing Miss Hampton Beach during the late 1950s and 1960s. He served in the Air National Guard. He taught photography classes at the YMCA in Brockton, Mass., and founded and was president of the New England Trade Institute (NETI). (Legacy.com)
Norman A. Colburn, 80, of Laconia, died May 8, 2026. He served on the Laconia Fire Department for 21 years, advancing from driver to deputy fire chief. In retirement, he worked in loss prevention for the N.H. Municipal Association. (Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home)
Charles Henry Cummings Jr., 77, of Greenland, died May 10, 2026. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked at Pease Air Force Base in civil engineering positions and later as head of the Reports and Analysis Branch in the 509th Transportation Squadron. In 1991 he transferred to the Industrial Relations Office at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He worked as a labor relations specialist for 12 years and was chief spokesman for management while negotiating the collective bargaining agreement between the shipyard and the American Federation of Government Employees. He served 12 years on the Greenland Budget Committee, three years on the Conservation Committee, two years on the Land Use Advisory Committee and four years as a selectmen, from 2008 to 2011. (Remick & Gendron Funeral Home)
David Holmes, 88, of Durham, died May 7, 2026. A U.S. Army veteran, he volunteered with the Peace Corps in 1963 andhelped establish savings and loan banks in Peru. He later become a Peace Corps administrator in the South Pacific islands of Tonga and Samoa. He was a career counselor at Fordham University, St. Lawrence University and UNH. (Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home)
John Linke “Jack” Lewis, 81, of Peterborough, died May 8, 2026. He spent his career with Chemical Bank in New York City, later JP Morgan Chase Bank, retiring in 2001 as senior vice president. He and his family moved to Dublin in 2002, and in 2020 to Peterborough. He was treasurer of the Peterborough Players and the Dublin Riding and Walking Club, and chaired the Dublin Conservation Commission. (Jellison Funeral Home & Cremation Services)
David Linatsas, 74, of Nashua, died May 10, 2026. He started his teaching career in special education in Nashua elementary schools. He then obtaining his doctorate in chiropractic at Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, Ga., andopened Nashua Family Chiropractic (known today as Lyphos Family Health). He retired in 2016 when his son, Brandon, took over the business. (Davis Funeral Home)
Robert Marquis, 72, of Stratham, died May 7, 2026. He was a counselor at Amesbury (Mass.) Middle School and then worked at SAU 21 in Hampton as a school psychologist. He was director of pupil services in Deerfield, special education director in SAU 56 in Somersworth, and assistant superintendent in Somersworth. He became superintendent of schools in Milford. (Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory)
Eric Paul Rochette, 55, of Nashua, died May 12, 2026. He was the owner of Rochette Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Nashua. He followed his father Paul into the funeral profession and had been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1991. He purchased the funeral home from his father in 2014, and he and his wife Deanna, became co-owners in 2019. He was a New Hampshire state representative for District 31, Ward 4 from 2005 to 2006 and for District 28, Ward 1 from 2007 to 2008. He served on the New Hampshire State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers from 2015 to 2020. He was a member of the Actorsingers of Nashua. (Rochette Funeral Home & Cremation Services)
Jack Tatirosian,M.D., 94, of Atkinson, died May 9, 2026. He was a captain in the U.S. Air Force and began his medical practice in 1966 in Haverhill, Mass. He was an internist and founding member of Pentucket Medical Associates. He retired in 2000. He was a staff member of Hale Hospital where he was also the chief of medicine for two years. (H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home)
Scott Evan Trexler, 61, of Moultonborough, died May 8, 2026. He worked at Trexler’s Marina on Lake Winnipesaukee since he was a child. The marina was bought by his parents in 1972, and when his father died in 1980, he became more involved in the business, eventually assuming the role of general manager. (Mayhew Funeral Home)
Ronald P. Voveris, 81, of Nashua, died May 13, 2026. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a social studies teacher at Nashua High School and then Elm Street Junior High School, where he dedicated 34 years. He Ron coached the “Twins” Babe Ruth baseball team for a decade and freshman baseball for Nashua High School. (Farwell Funeral Service)
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Life is never easy. There is work to be done and obligations to be met – obligations to truth, to justice, and to liberty.” — John F. Kennedy, 35th U.S. President, May 29, 1917, to Nov. 22, 1963
Emily (Em) Madeline Peters, 28, passed away on April 29, 2026 in Boston. Em was born on February 27, 1998 in Rochester, NY. Our family moved to Amherst, NH in 1999.
Em attended school in Amherst and graduated from Souhegan High School in 2016. Em enjoyed photography and art where they demonstrated a talent for painting. Em also enjoyed playing the guitar and ukulele. Em was part of the Amherst Congregational Church Youth Group where they participated in mission trips to serve the communities in Tennessee and New York City.
After high school, Em lived and worked in New Hampshire, Cape Cod and the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. Em was a devoted friend who dedicated themselves to causes that supported the LGBTQ+ community. Em also was always prepared to help those living with addiction. They carried Narcan with them and used it several times to help someone who had overdosed. They were passionate about equality and fairness in the workplace which led them to take action. Em helped lead workers to organize and form a union at a grocery store where they worked. Em also worked for a non-profit organization providing food, clothing and child care to those that needed help.
Em is survived by their parents, Eileen Marie (Hodges) Peters and David Lester Peters of Amherst, NH; brother Andrew Partrick Peters of Merrimack, NH; sister Katherine MacKenzie Peters of Essex, MA.; and grandfather Gerald L. Hodges, Jr. of Rochester, NY. Em is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. Em is predeceased by her maternal grandmother Mary “Dolly” (Curley) Hodges and paternal grandparents Eugene Monroe Peters and Gloria Shirley (Thorne) Peters.
Some of our fondest and happiest memories were spent together on family vacations. Whether we were camping, visiting Old Orchard Beach, or exploring national parks, we were happy. Em’s time on this earth was far too short. We loved them dearly and they will always remain in our hearts. We will miss their good-natured teasing and many inside jokes. We will miss their creativity, compassion for others, and their beautiful smile.
Family and friends are warmly welcomed to attend calling hours at Michaud Funeral Home, 32 Maple Street in Wilton, NH on Sunday, May 24, 2026, from 2 – 4 pm. A service will be held following calling hours at the funeral home. The arrangements are in the care of the Michaud Funeral Home, 32 Maple St., Wilton, NH. To view an online obituary or leave a condolence, please visit our web site at www.michaudfuneralhome.com
House Democrats have a nearly perfect record of voting against proposed bans on personal income taxes. On Thursday, they’ll face a different dilemma:
Whether to vote in favor of giving the state the power to impose a progressive income tax.
Rep. Thomas Oppel, D-Canaan, plans to bring an amendment to the floor Thursday “providing that: the legislature may impose progressive-based income taxes, and revenues derived from such taxes be used exclusively to fund public schools in order to offset local property taxes.”
Oppel was part of the “Cut Our Property Taxes!” group organized by former Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky to push for the so-called “3-3 Tax Savings Plan” that would institute a 3% income tax for all residents and a $3 tax per $1,000 of equalized property value for all homeowners.
His amendment Thursday goes further, imposing a graduated income tax.
“Any assessments, rates, and taxes imposed on income shall be considered reasonable and proportional if they are imposed at the same rates across the state even though they are imposed and levied progressively; that is, at rates that rise or increase in whole or in part, as the income being taxed increases,” Oppel’s amendment reads.
House rules allow any member to offer an amendment to any legislation, but even if there were procedural barriers, Republicans are happy to have Democrats cast this vote. Democratic leaders like Rep. Alexis Simpson, D-Exeter, and Sen. Rebecca Perkins-Kwoka, D-Portsmouth, have publicly rejected an income tax and can’t be happy to have it back in the election-year conversation. Republicans, on the other hand, greeted the news with delight.
“House Democrats just filed an amendment to push for an income tax and hijack the state constitution,” the House GOP posted Tuesday. “House Democrats know Granite Staters overwhelmingly oppose an income tax. They do not care. Our message has not changed: HELL NO to income tax. Not now. Not ever.”
And House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, R-Auburn, added, “The Committee to Elect House Republicans would like to make Taxin’ Tom Oppel an honorary board member.”
Income taxes are a tricky issue for Democrats, as Joyce Craig demonstrated in her failed 2024 governor’s race. Democrats like Cinde Warmington insist they oppose a broad-based sales or income tax. However, they’re also promising voters they will lower their property taxes.
Volinsky’s approach is to use an income tax to shift about $1 billion from property taxes to income taxes, lowering the property tax burden.
Warmington has yet to say where she would find the money to lower property taxes without cutting state funding to public schools.
Republicans like Rep. Dan McGuire, R-Epsom, head of Granite State Taxpayers, want to tackle high property taxes by controlling spending. They’re pushing a bill to put a local property tax cap on the ballot in every community.
“Our outrageous property tax levels are the result of unchecked spending on schools and, in particular, school administration,” said McGuire. “Well-run states in this regard, like Idaho and Utah, spend half as much per pupil as we do and get similar results.
“Voters in November will get a chance to stem the bleeding if the Senate and House can get together on HB 1300, a school property tax cap bill.”
Polls show more than 70% of Granite Staters oppose an income tax.
This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.
New Hampshire
Private Island Escape in New Hampshire That Can Be Accessed Only by Boat or Snowmobile Is Listed for Less Than $350K
Jetting off to a private island for the summer may seem like a luxury enjoyed only by the ultrawealthy—but in New Hampshire, that dream is readily available for nearly $100,000 less than the national median home price.
The 7,800-square-foot isle in Milan, NH, which is on the market for just $337,700, is home to a fully-sustainable cottage that was designed as “the ultimate escape from the everyday,” something that is readily achieved by the property’s remote location.
Accessible only by water—or ice during the coldest winter months—the island can be completely cut off from civilization should the next owner desire, a rare feature that has helped the dwelling to bob right to the top of the week’s most popular homes list.
The exclusive off-grid retreat, which is tucked away on Nay Pond in New Hampshire’s North Country, has been outfitted with several eco-friendly amenities that allow it to continue running without assistance from the mainland, including solar power, a backup generator, a water collection system, and a composting toilet.
Designed for buyers seeking a true escape where the only visitors dropping by are local loons, the getaway is accessible during all four seasons. It has a boat dock for access during the warmer months and “direct snowmobile trail access” in the winter.
The home can accommodate eight guests, making it an ideal investment property for investors seeking additional rental income, or it could be used as a family getaway.
Other properties grabbing attention this week are a historic log home with four guest cabins in Montana, an Italian Renaissance Revival home in Louisiana, and a 1902 Georgian Revival and neoclassical landmark in Indiana.
Price: $4,490,000
Why it’s here: It’s a four-bedroom luxury mountain retreat tucked away on 43.92 wooded acres with multiple springs, creeks, and a pond. It’s being sold at auction without reserve on May 23.
The chateau-inspired residence “designed for those seeking the ultimate privacy” offers long-range mountain views that reach Tennessee “on a clear day.”
Designed for grand-scale entertaining, the 5,000-square-foot interior features a luxurious chef’s kitchen with dual refrigerators and dishwashers, a lavish primary suite with marble shower and covered terrace, and a secondary suite with a kitchenette. The lower level could be transformed into a studio, wellness center, or entertainment level.
Multiple covered decks and a covered back porch overlook an outdoor fireplace and offer scenic mountain views.
Teresa Bryant Brown of Teresa B. Brown is the listing agent.
Price: $850,000
Why it’s here: Here’s the chance to step back in time with this 200-year-old hand-hewn log home.
Offering just 690 square feet of space, the tiny two-bedroom residence boasts a vintage-inspired interior with original wide-plank wood floors, exposed beams, vaulted ceilings, a stone fireplace, a Dutch door, and a hand-painted sink. The kitchen features a herringbone-patterned original brick floor along with modern appliances.
A bluestone slate patio found out back overlooks the 6.41-acre lot, which also has a pond and a brook.
Josephine O’Leary Weir of Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty is the listing agent.
Price: $1,549,000
Why it’s here: Calling all investors! Here’s the chance to buy a historic log home with four guest cabins located on 24.25 acres overlooking Trapper Creek. It is currently being used as a fishing lodge.
The “income-producing retreat” is dotted by ponds, outbuildings, outdoor areas, and an expansive deck designed for entertaining and soaking in the tranquil scenery. Offering hunting and fishing opportunities onsite, the property is also located near Lost Trail Powder Mountain and the Bitterroot River.
While the cabins “provide immediate rental potential,” they could also be used to create a multigenerational legacy compound, event venue, or corporate getaway.
Jani Summers of Engel & Volkers Western Frontier – Hamilton is the listing agent.
Price: $499,900
Why it’s here: Built in 1930, this Italian Renaissance Revival home features many period details and modern conveniences.
Original hardwood floors, a grand staircase, and arched doorways can be found throughout the 4,139-square-foot interior. A formal living room surrounded by oversized windows has a gas fireplace with an ornate mantel. Other highlights include a sunroom, a spacious eat-in kitchen with updated appliances, and a light-filled formal dining room.
A large carport can accommodate three vehicles.
Allison M Romaguera of WayMaker Realty is the listing agent.
Price: $1,125,000
Why it’s here: It’s a 160-acre, off-grid, prepper’s paradise nestled near Trinity National Forest. It features high-end finishes and luxurious amenities.
The two-bedroom sustainable residence boasts heated concrete floors, solar power, fire-resistant wood paneling, an outdoor shower, and a private well. Multiple skylights can be found throughout the 3,000-square-foot interior.
A modern kitchen has quartz and butcher block countertops and a built-in dining bench. The sun-soaked living room has a brick fireplace and sliders that open to a covered patio.
A detached three-car garage with electric charging capabilities and a mobile home for guests can also be found on the enormous lot.
Doren Morgan of California Outdoor Properties is the listing agent.
Price: $749,995
Why it’s here: The Charles Over Mansion is a “meticulously restored” 1902 Georgian Revival and neoclassical landmark.
Historic highlights include Corinthian columns, custom millwork, preserved hardwood floors, solid oak and leaded-glass entry doors, original terrazzo floors, crystal chandeliers, leaded and stained glass, coffered ceilings, pocket doors, and five fireplaces.
The 12,892-square-foot residence also features a formal dining room with oak wainscoting, a drawing room, a kitchen with commercial-grade appliances, a grand staircase with dual built-in bench seating, and a third-floor “speakeasy-style retreat” with brick floors, a guest suite, and a hidden ballroom with a stage, media lounge, and dance floor.
An expansive front porch and second-level portico were designed for relaxing.
Shawna Lubus of Compass of Indiana is the listing agent.
Price: $375,000
Why it’s here: Built in 1960 by architect B. Milton Cuppy Jr. as his personal residence, this midcentury home was “rescued in 2023” and restored to its original beauty.
Original terrazzo floors, glass walls, multiple skylights, and period-specific enhancements can be found throughout the 2,280-square-foot dwelling. The four-bedroom residence with a two-car attached garage also features a retro kitchen with 1960s electric range and salvaged original tile lining the 2.5 bathrooms.
A large wood deck overlooks the 1-acre wooded lot.
Christy Kalavsky of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Indiana Realty is the listing agent.
Price: $179,900
Why it’s here: This A-frame residence surprises with its very own private cave carved into a bluff, surrounded by a towering rock wall and tucked away behind the cabin!
Located on 2 acres in the gated second-home community of Aspenhof, the 1,632-square-foot abode features a two-story living room with a wood-burning stove and sliders that open to a wraparound deck. Loft-style accommodations can be found upstairs, offering three sleeping areas. According to the listing, “most furnishings can remain with the property.”
It also comes with exclusive access to four private lakes designed for fishing, swimming, and nonmotorized boating.
Dan Dieckmann of Innsbrook Properties is the listing agent.
Price: $2,639,000
Why it’s here: The Tobias Langdon House pre-dates the Declaration of Independence and still features much of its historic charm.
Built in 1710, the four-bedroom Colonial has been thoughtfully modernized while still preserving many period details. Highlights include custom millwork, original wide-plank floors, built-ins, multiple fireplaces, and dual staircases. A country kitchen has high-end appliances as well as a cooking fireplace.
A lushly landscaped back garden with a brick patio has views of the nearby Piscataqua River and also overlooks a fully equipped outdoor kitchen designed for entertaining.
Patrick Carey of Carey Giampa, LLC/Seabrook Beach is the listing agent.
Price: $337,700
Why it’s here: Here’s the chance to buy a sustainable two-bedroom home and live on your very own private island on Nay Pond!
The secluded sanctuary features a 600-square-foot home where the only neighbors are local loons. The eco-friendly residence designed for “self-sufficient living” features a backup generator, solar power, a water collection system, a composting toilet, and a gas fireplace. Pull-down stairs lead to an unfinished sleeping area.
Designed as a vacation rental or private getaway, the year-round property can be accessed by snowmobiles during the winter and boats during the warmer months.
“No offers will be accepted until May 17, 2026,” according to the listing.
Debi Davis of Re/Max Northern Edge Realty is the listing agent.
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