Roger W. Lawrence

Roger William Lawrence, born January 19, 1920 in Nashua NH died on November 16, 2016 at the New Hampshire Veterans Nursing Home in Tilton, NH, formerly from Merrimack, NH, is son of Doras William Lawrence and Laura Lawrence (Burelle).

Roger was an active Boy Scout in early years and continued the interests he developed in the scouts through his entire life: collecting stamps, coins and bird watching. He joined the National Guard Sept 30, 1939. His unit was activated, during World War II as an active unit of the U.S. Army, and sent to Australia, then to New Guinea, and then to the Philippines. He served as a Surgical Technician.

Upon his return from military service he resumed his studies at St. Anselm College where he received his BS in biology. After meeting and marrying Theresa Janine Durocher he continued his studies for a Masters at Catholic University in Washington then his PhD at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana.

Moving back to New Hampshire he began his career as an Associate Professor of Biology at St. Anselm College where he taught from 1953 to 1986. During this time he bought and moved into a farm house in Merrimack, NH where he raised his family and became a parishioner of Our Lady of Cedars Church in Manchester, NH and had been an active cantor.

Through all these years Roger had become a very proficient bird watcher both casually and professionally. He participated in many bird counts, teaching his children along the way, taking his college students on birding trips to Florida, and even becoming a U.S. certified bird bander for research. He also spent a number of years volunteering at the Reeds Ferry Elementary School, Merrimack, NH instructing students in hawk watching which has inspired many young birdwatchers.

In later years, he became interested in researching family genealogy, “because I wanted to find out where my grandfather was buried.”  This led him, together with other interested genealogists to form the American-Canadian Genealogical Society of Manchester, NH in 1979. Genealogical activities pre-dominated his interests through the remainder of his life.

Roger is predeceased by his parents Doras and Laura, his youngest daughter Christine and his wife Theresa and is survived by his children: Janine Lawrence, Thomas Lawrence, Susan Lawrence, Gregory Lawrence, grandchildren Chris Anthony Cristo, Aaron Jenness, Miriam McCallum (Jenness), Danielle Lawrence Taylor, Sarah Lawrence, Eric Lawrence, Andrew Lawrence, Peter Lawrence, Anna Lawrence, Benjamin Suprenant, Renee Lawrence, Mary Lawrence, Mark Lawrence, and Nicole Lawrence; great grandchildren: Jack, Kyleigh,  Nicolas, Harrison, Sadie, Claire, Zaylie, Madeline, Layla and Elias.

Roger has been both gifted and a gift to all his family.  He has shared the gifts God had given to him and in doing so has illumined all who have met and spent time with him.

The family of Roger wishes to thank the staff of Laurel Place and Fairview in Hudson, NH and The New Hampshire Veterans Nursing Home in Tilton, NH

SERVICES:  There are no visiting hours.  A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday November 19, 2016 in Our Lady of the Cedars Church, 140 Mitchell St., Manchester, NH at 10:00 AM.  Everyone is invited to meet at the church.  Burial with military honors will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford, NH.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Cedars Melkite Church, 140 Mitchell St., Manchester, NH 03103 or to the American-Canadian Genealogical Library, 4 Elm St., Manchester, NH 03103.

 Service Information