Rogers David (Dave) Pruitt of Haverhill, NH, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2025 at the age of 84.
Dave was born in 1941 in Lynn Massachusetts to Rogers and Helen Pruitt. He spent much of his childhood playing baseball and other games with neighborhood friends in Lynn Woods Reservation, a place he would return to throughout his life. He graduated from Lynn English High School and then Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where Dave earned both a B.A. and an M.A. of Divinity.
It was at Gordon College that Dave met the love of his life, Anna-Lisa Sillanpaa, a fellow student who typed his papers after responding to his newspaper ad. Dave and Anna-Lisa were married in 1964. After finishing graduate school in 1966 they moved to Rhode Island, where Dave became minister of the United Baptist Church. After a few years in that role, Dave decided to try a different career.
In 1970 Dave landed a job in Massachusetts at Walpole High School and the couple, now with one-year-old son Ken in tow, moved to Randolph. He taught a variety of subjects during his 26 years there, including business, US history, English, psychology, typing and law – he was willing to teach any subject where an instructor was needed. Dave was popular with his students thanks to his empathy and desire to help them succeed.
In 1972 Dave and Anna-Lisa had their second son, Paul. The family later added Walter the Basset Hound, a gentle soul with a comical appearance whom Dave loved and Anna-Lisa tolerated. In the 1970s and 80s the family enjoyed summer vacations in New Hampshire, frequently at Pine Knoll Campground in Albany. Dave enjoyed hiking with his family, especially Mt. Chocorua and Mt. Washington, something his sons still enjoy.
During those years, Dave was also a freelance sports writer for the Lynn Item, Salem Evening News, Quincy Patriot Ledger, and Boston Herald. He also organized and played in an informal Friday night hockey league in Quincy.
After their children had grown up, Dave and Anna-Lisa enjoyed spending weekends at bed and breakfasts throughout New Hampshire, one of them in Haverhill. Dave retired from teaching in 1996. A year later, he and Anna-Lisa moved to Haverhill, where they would live for 28 years.
Upon moving to Haverhill Dave decided to come out of retirement and return to the ministry, this time with the Congregational Church. He served five years as pastor at Haverhill Congregational Church, and then at Congregational Churches in Dalton NH, Bradford VT, Newbury VT, Wells River, VT, and finally for five years at West Newbury (VT) Congregational Church. He was well-known and well-loved for his sense of humor, his calm demeanor, his compassion, and his understanding of human nature. Each “retirement” from the ministry triggered offers from other churches in the Upper Valley.
Dave was extremely interested in history and made the most of that, and his sense of humor, in both his ministry and personal life. He started church services with a quiz (often historical in nature) and a joke - a practice he started as a high school teacher. He and his family spent many enjoyable hours discussing historical events and watching history-themed movies and documentaries.
Dave also loved building stone walls, including the one in his front yard in Haverhill. Friends driving down Route 10 would often see him working on the wall, maneuvering heavy stones into just the right position.
Dave volunteered for several years as a lecturer on the topic of President Abraham Lincoln for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Dartmouth College. Dave was such a fervent admirer of President Lincoln that in 2015, he and Anna-Lisa procured historical costumes and flew to Springfield, IL to participate in the 150th year reenactment of President Lincoln‘s funeral.
In keeping with a life of service to others, Dave volunteered as coordinator of transportation for disabled veterans (and as a driver himself) for the White River Junction VT VA Medical Center for several years. Dave was also an active member of the Cohase Lions Club of Woodsville, NH from 2008-2023, serving as President in 2017.
Dave is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Anna-Lisa Pruitt of Arlington, MA, son Ken Pruitt and daughter-in-law Teresa Doksum of Winchester MA, son Paul Pruitt of Mt. Pleasant SC, granddaughter Emma Pruitt and her husband Michael Lee of Winchester MA, grandson Calvin Pruitt of Worcester MA, and granddaughter Laura Mitchell of Worcester MA.
A Memorial Service will be held on November 16 at 2:00 p.m. at West Newbury Congregational Church, 207 Tyler Farm Rd, West Newbury, VT. The service will be followed immediately by a burial service at West Newbury Cemetery and a reception at West Newbury Hall, located across the street from the Church.
We know that Dave would appreciate donations in his memory to either West Newbury Congregational Church, PO Box 83, West Newbury, VT 05085 https://www.westnewburychurch.org/ or to the Upper Valley Haven, 713 Hartford Ave, White River Jct, VT 05001 https://uppervalleyhaven.org/.