Albert R. "Al" Spillman

He was born in Denver, CO on September 30, 1932 the son of Albert R. and Mary (Sullivan) Spillman. He grew up in Hempstead, Long Island, NY and summered in Estes Park, Colorado with his family. He was a graduate of Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY.

Al received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley in 1956. On June 23, 1956 he married his wife, Katharine Scanlon in Brattleboro VT at St Michael’s Catholic Church. His first math teaching job was in Saginaw, MI. In 1957, the couple moved back to New York State where Al taught in the Huntington and Brewster area schools for 15years. In 1967, he received his Masters degree in Mathematics from Central Connecticut State College. The family moved to Keene, NH in 1972, where he taught math at Brattleboro Union High School from1972-1979 and then at Keene High School from 1979-1986. He continued to teach others his love of math as a tutor at Community College of Vermont in Brattleboro, VT and at River Valley Community College in Keene, NH.

Al always had a love for his community. He was a Boy Scout Leader and a square dance caller in New York. He was a man of faith throughout his life. In Keene he was active parishioner at St Margaret Mary’s Church including the church choir, folk group and a former member of the St. Margaret Mary Parish Council. Al was a member of the Knights of Columbus for more than fifty years and held several officer positions. He was named Knight of the Year in 2008 by the Knights of Columbus Council #5414, Keene, NH. He was an active organizer for the Red Cross’s Operation Appreciation each year to honor service men and women in our community.

His love for music was very well known; from Big Band to Western Swing and show tunes. Al was a PROUD Denver, Colorado native and loved to share his knowledge of the Rockies. He enjoyed many hours behind the wheel of his John Deere tractor. He was a wonderful father and husband and loved spending time while being with each and everyone.

Her is survived by his wife of fifty- eight years, Katharine (Scanlon) Spillman of Keene, NH; four daughters; Jeanne Marie S. Vayda and her husband Dr. Michael of Fayetteville, AR, Carol Conant and her husband Steve of Billerica, MA, Mary K Bullis and her fiancé Tim of St. Albans, VT, and Kathleen M. Clark and her husband Chris of Brattleboro, VT; two sons; James R. Spillman and his wife Kate of Middletown, MD and Patrick J. Spillman and his fiancé Nancy of New York, NY; twelve grandchildren; Robert Vayda, Anne Marie Vayda, Peter Vayda, Brittany Bullis, Kevin Spillman, Verne Conant, Trevor Bullis, Irene Conant, Molly Spillman, Ian Bullis, MacKenzie Conant and Grace Spillman; several cousins including Patrick Sullivan of Amherst, MA, Daniel Sullivan of New York, NY, Terrance Sullivan of Cincinnati, OH, Cathy Gallagher of Berkeley, CA, and Maggie Tharin of Fremont, CA.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Margaret Mary Church, 33 Arch Street, Keene, NH on Saturday morning, December 6, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. The Rev. Steven M. Kucharski, Associate Pastor will be the celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Oak Grove Avenue, Brattleboro, VT. Family and friends are invited to call at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH on Friday, December 5, 2014 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a scholarship fund that has been created for students at River Valley Community College at the Keene, NH campus. Contributions should be sent to: Albert Spillman Math Scholarship Fund, C/O Community Colleges of New Hampshire, 26 College Drive, Concord, NH 03301.