Gilford-----Andrew J. Moynihan, 91, of Gilford and formerly a longtime resident of Butler St., Laconia died peacefully at the St. Francis Home, Laconia, on Monday, February 20, 2012 with his family by his side. He was the widower of Elaine (Grew) Moynihan who died in 1999.
Mr. Moynihan was born November 14, 1920 in Newport, Rhode Island, the son of Andrew P. and Madeline (Grauer) Moynihan He was raised in Manchester, N.H., graduating from Manchester West High School in 1939. He graduated from Keene State College in 1947 with his Bachelor of Education Degree and graduated from Pennsylvania State College in 1952 with his Masters of Education Degree. He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942-1945 with the VMF-115 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron. He kept a close connection with his WWII buddies attending annual reunions throughout the country.
Mr. Moynihan was a longtime resident of Laconia and was a communicant of St. Joseph Church. He began his career in education in 1947 as an Industrial Arts Teacher at Laconia High School. In 1967 he became the Coordinator of Federal Funds, ESEA Title I for the Manchester School District. In 1970 he was chosen to serve in the position of Executive Director of the New Hampshire Advisory Council for Vocational-Technical Education, retiring from this position in 1985.
Mr. Moynihan was a lifetime member of the NEA. He enjoyed several years working on Christmas Village in Laconia, where in 1991 he had the honor of serving as the Mayor of Christmas Village. For fifteen years, he served on the Laconia Conservation Commission. He was a member of the New Hampshire Selective Service Board from 1990-2010.
Mr. Moynihan’s greatest love, second only to his family, was his dearly loved camp on Lake Winnipesaukee. Clearing the land himself, the camp is the original “green” project constructed from lumber, fixtures and recycled materials coming from many sources, each one with it’s own story. His creative mind and keen ability to visualize the outcome of his efforts make the camp a very unique place. He enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives showing every visitor the result of his hard work as he was very proud of the results.
Survivors include a son, John A. Moynihan, and a daughter and son-in-law, Lisa A. and Nathan Hazeltine, all of Gilford; two granddaughters, Sarah Gagnon of Cincinnati, Ohio and Megan Caron of Newtonville, Mass.; a grandson, Henry Trachy, of Franklin, N.H. and a sister, Madeline Moynihan, of Manchester, several nieces and nephews and many friends. In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Moynihan was predeceased by a daughter, Melanie, in 2004 and by two sisters, Dolores Murphy and Sarah Mirabelli.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2012 from 6:00-8:00PM in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:00am at St. Andre Bessette Parish, St. Joseph Church, 30 Church Street, Laconia, N.H.
Burial will follow in the family lot in Bayside Cemetery, Laconia, N.H.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Andrew J. Moynihan Scholarship Fund c/o Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 7312, Gilford, NH 03247-7312
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com