Ira Peabody Townsend

Ira Peabody Townsend died peacefully on September 26. He was 96 years old. He was a long-time resident of Meriden, NH, until moving to Harvest Hill in Lebanon in 2010. 

The son of Philip and Maybelle Townsend, Ira was born on Jan. 25, 1920, and grew up in Lebanon, NH. He attended Lebanon HS and spent a post-graduate year at Kimball Union Academy. He graduated in three years from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1941, and enlisted in the US Navy as a pilot and aviation instrument instructor. He married Sara Martenis in 1943.

After the war, Ira taught math and coached alpine and Nordic skiing at Kimball Union Academy until 1985. He was also business and projects manager and a trustee. He was ahead of his time in computerizing the school's payroll system. With a crew of student "volunteers", Ira built the KUA ski hill and lifts, the ski jumps and the lodge at the base of the hill. He established the Townsend Scholarship Fund for prospective students.

Ira was awarded the KUA Medal in 1990 for his "outstanding work on behalf of the Academy and his lifelong dedication to Kimball Union and the community". Long after his retirement, alumni would drive great distances to visit their much-revered coach and teacher and to express their admiration and appreciation.

He loved the outdoors, skiing, camping, cutting hiking and ski trails, gardening, splitting wood, and especially flying. With his daughter Patricia, after retiring their Cessna airplane, he built an ultra-light airplane from a kit and flew it all around Meriden, taking off from the runway that he had built behind the family home.

Ira's extensive involvement in community life was ultimately recognized by a proclamation from the Governor and Council, with his wife Sara, for outstanding volunteerism. He never backed away from a challenge or responsibility. He organized the Meriden Water Company. He was a prominent member of the Planning Board in its successful effort to limit the village to two trailer parks, and he was a long-time volunteer in the Meriden Fire Department. He was president of Mascoma Savings Bank and a trustee of Alice Peck Day Hospital. He carved road signs for the entire community. He deeded more than a hundred acres to the Upper Valley Land Trust, where people can continue to ski and hike the trails he built.

He could make or fix anything and was always happy to undertake a new project or solve a new problem. When he was no longer able to do physical work, he puzzled over Sudoko's. His handiwork went beyond construction and repairs. He took up welding sculptures that included large-scale sunbursts and humorous renditions of skiers. He also experimented with painting on glass. Never one to waste anything, he crafted wood frames out of old hockey sticks. There was nothing that he couldn't fix or create. Being idle was not part of his game plan.

He was a kind, gentle, quiet man. His strength came from his strong work ethic and New England self- reliance.

Ira is survived by his wife of 73 years, Sara, his daughter Patricia, his son James and daughter-in-law 

Sandra, and grandchildren Julia and Torrey and Torrey's wife, Laura.
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