Thomas R McNamara

Attended public schools in Allenstown, NH graduating Pembroke Academy in 1948 Thomas graduated from New England College in 1951 with a degree in English. Later in his career he earned an MS in Education in 1981 from Antioch College, Keene.

Known to his military friends as “Mac” he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed at Tulln Air Force Base in Austria during the Korean War. After his European duty he spent the balance of his 4 years of service at the Pentagon in Washington DC. Thomas attained the rank of staff sergeant before leaving the military in 1959. Over the past 50 years Thomas kept in close contact with many of his Air Force friends attending a number of reunions.

Thomas (known as Mr. Mac to his students) worked his entire career in education. He taught English in Canaan Vermont, Hopkinton and Concord, NH. The majority of his career was spent administering Title 1 services for the Concord Union School District. He retired after 30 years with Concord schools in 1992.

Theater and stage productions, especially Shakespearian plays, were his great loves. During his career and into retirement he directed and/or performed in many theater productions. He was active in Concord Community Players, Concord Light Opera Company and Geezer Productions at Heritage Heights even leaning toward stand-up comedy repeatedly performing an Abbott & Costello routine “Who’s on First?”.

A life-long singer he met his wife Joan Prince (Soule) singing in the Concord Unitarian Universalist (UU) church choir in 1962 where they both continued to sing until just last year. They were married in the same church in June of 1963.

Thomas was a lover of the outdoors, nature and the world around him. With his wife and family he hiked, climbed, paddled and camped all over New England.

Both he and Joan especially loved the coast of Maine and enjoyed vacations camping all over the United States, Canada and traveling to various countries around the world.

During retirement years they became snowbirds and lived winters in Beverly Hills, Florida. They were active in a local UU church there making many long term friends. Thomas was an especially understanding and compassionate man who enjoyed people in general and especially loved teaching young people.

Thomas leaves three sons; Alan Soule of Tilton, Christopher Soule and wife Linda Ashford of Bow and Brian Soule of Penacook. He is also survived by his sister Janice Towle of Suncook, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, 3 nieces and 3 nephews.

He is pre-deceased by parents (Glenn and Gladys), brother (Richard) and sister (Francis Cloutier).

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of can be made to UU church of Concord, NH. – www.concorduu.org. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM February 23 at Havenwood Retirement Home in Concord, NH.