William C. "Tony" Quimby

White River Jct., Vt. - Tony passed away suddenly on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital at age 90.
 
Tony was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 26, 1928, son of Arthur and Marguerite (Lewin) Quimby. The youngest of three children, his youth was spent in Ohio, with summers in Plainfield, N.H., where his ancestors go back generations. He attended The Hawkin School in Cleveland and then Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth he played freshman football and varsity lacrosse. He did a two-year stint in the U.S. Army after his second year at Dartmouth, always claiming that that was where he learned to drive a truck and play golf. After graduating in 1952 he went on to receive an MA in Education from Harvard. In 1953 he met and married Emily Neidert and they moved to the Hartford, Conn. area while Tony worked for Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. Before moving back to N.H. in 1963 they had three children: David (1954), Susan (1956), and Douglas (1959).
 
In 1963, not happy at his job, Tony and Emily moved the family to Meriden and Tony went to work as a Financial Aid Officer at Dartmouth College, where he worked for 30 years. Having left a small house on a quarter acre in Conn., here they bought an old farmhouse, complete with barns, a chicken coop, meadows, and a pond, on over 200 acres. To this day that land is occupied largely by a variety of family members and friends. It was here that Tony really thrived. He and Emily dove into farm life and shortly there were large vegetable gardens, sheep, beef cattle, chickens, ducks, geese, sheep dogs, and ponies. The 4-H organization became a major part of Tony's life, as he trucked sheep and kids to fairs all summer, on top of all the work maintaining the farm. Tractors, mowers, balers, and all sorts of farm equipment were purchased and maintained. It should also be noted that Tony was a graduate of UNH's sheep-shearing school.
 
f folks, many tied up in protest movements, some just in need of a safe place. To this day, many of them remain dear family friends who loved Tony.
 
Emily passed away quite prematurely in 1986 and after some time as a bachelor, Tony met and married Charlotte Houde in 1989. The newlyweds sold their existing homes and built a new home on land on Tony's farm in Meriden. Tony and Charlotte's home quickly became a magnet for the now combined family, with two of Tony's children and four of Charlotte's either building on the land or purchasing homes in and around Meriden. Their house was the center of the family, with a new generation of grandchildren all around them. Tony and Charlotte may hold some sort of record for most grandchildren's sporting events attended. Both were active in the Meriden Congregational Church and a wide variety of political and charity organizations.
 
Charlotte's interest and expertise in women's healthcare and midwifery next led them to Uganda, with Tony's full support. There Charlotte trained midwives and assessed the country's needs in her field. Tony took on a volunteer position as an administrator for Case Western Reserve University's HIV/AIDS project in Kampala. Again following Charlotte's professional career, they next took up residences in North Carolina and Washington, DC.
 
Eventually returning to Meriden, Tony and Charlotte again became involved grandparents, avid volunteers, political activists, and the center of two growing families. Tony was especially involved in Christmas tree farming and maintaining a small golf course around his meadows. His great loves during this time were family, Dartmouth affairs and sports, music, church, and his own genealogy. And much to the dismay of his Red Sox-loving family, he remained a Cleveland Indians fan to the end; he passed away the day after Cleveland clinched a playoff spot.
 
As their health needs dictated, Tony and Charlotte decided to move to assisted living, first at The Woodlands, then to a townhouse in Lebanon, and then to Harvest Hill. Even while battling a variety of health issues, Tony maintained a cheerful, positive outlook and enjoyed his life.
 
In early 2017 Charlotte passed away unexpectedly, leaving a huge hole in Tony’s life. For health reasons he moved to Valley Terrace’s Memory Care Unit, where he resided until his death.
 
Tony was predeceased by his parents, brother Conrad, and sister Carol. He is survived by son David and grandson Connor; daughter Susan Quimby-Young and granddaughter Aly; and son Doug. He is also survived by his stepchildren and their families: Robert Houde, wife Susan, and grandson Michael; John Houde, wife Jennifer, and granddaughters Nell and Georgia; David Houde; Judy Houde Hardy, husband Greg, granddaughters Jasmine and Kelsey, grandsons Cooper and Grayson, and great-granddaughter Charlotte, daughter of Kelsey and husband Scott MacNamee; Matthew Houde, wife Sarah, and granddaughters Haddie and Rosalind; Beth Houde, partner Terri, and granddaughter Zoey.
 
In lieu of flowers Tony has requested any donations be made to either The Listen Center, 60 Hanover St., Lebanon, NH 03766 or Dartmouth College Scholarship Aid, Financial Aid Office, McNutt Hall, Hanover, NH 03755.
 
A memorial service celebrating Tony's life and love of music will be held at the Meriden Congregational Church on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 4 p.m., followed by light refreshments at the Parish House to exchange thoughts and memories. There will be no calling hours at Tony's request.
 
To view an online memorial and or send a message of condolence to the family, please visit, www.rand-wilson.com.
 
Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, N.H.
 
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