Laconia----Gilbert S. Center, 90, a longtime resident of Laconia, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at Havenwood-Heritage Heights in Concord, NH.
Gil was born in Colebrook, NH, the only child of Gilbert Sayward Center and Camilla Brigham. He received a bachelor’s degree in History and Government from Bates College in 1943. After serving in the U. S. Navy from 1943-1945, Gil began a long public school teaching career, first in Huntington, MA and then in Laconia, NH. He earned a master’s degree in History from the University of New Hampshire. Additional studies included a Coe Fellowship at the Institute of American History at Stanford University and the NDEA Institute on 20th Century U.S. History at Purdue University. After leaving Laconia High School after 25 years, he became the Executive Director of the New Hampshire American Revolution Bicentennial Commission from 1972-1977. His final career was as Director of the New Hampshire State House Visitor Center in Concord until his retirement in 1988.
He was the loving husband of Marjorie Cahall Center who he met at Bates College and with whom he celebrated 67 years of marriage this past November.
An avid historian, Gil served on the New Hampshire Historical Records Advisory Board, as a trustee of the US Constitution Council of the Thirteen Original States, as the public member of the program grant committee of the Bicentennial Council of the Thirteen Original States, and a member of the New Hampshire Civil War Centennial Commission.
A resident of Laconia for 61 years Gil was highly regarded as a prominent area historian. He was the author of the weekly column, “Our Yesterdays,” in the Laconia Evening Citizen from 1965-1990. Gil was a life member of the Belknap Mill Society working many years on the preservation of the mill and its program goals.
Gil was very active in the American Baptist Churches of Vermont and New Hampshire with its mission and programs and served as an area director. He had particular interest with its world mission support. He also was very involved with Bates College Alumni affairs.
In addition to his wife, Marjorie, family members include his son, Robert Center, and his wife, Kay, of Waitsfield, Vermont and children Carrie Henry of Underhill, Vermont and Dana Henry of Winona, Minnesota; his daughter, Jodi Center, of Lynchburg, Virginia; cousins, Pauline Lemieux and Roberta Rainville, of Colebrook, New Hampshire, and Kathy Spitzner of Beecher Falls, Vermont.
A celebration of Gilbert Center’s life will be held on April 16, 2011h at 1:00 pm at the Belknap Mill in Laconia.
As a tribute to his lifelong love of learning, gifts may be directed to the Havenwood-Heritage Heights Programs Fund, 33 Christian Avenue, Concord, NH. 03301.
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.