John D. Goethel

John D. "Jack" Goethel, a longtime attorney for the John Hancock Company, died at Exeter Hospital on April 16, 2003, after a short illness. He was 79.

Goethel was born Dec. 30, 1923, in Duluth, Minnesota, the son of Karl J. and Marguerite (McKittrick) Geothel. He spent his childhood in Newton, Mass., graduating from Newton High School in 1942. He was a veteran of World War II, having served as a bombardier from 1942 to 1945 flying B-17s with the 8th Air Force in the 100th Bomb Group. He survived being shot down during one mission, which resulted in a dramatic rescue in the North Sea.

Goethel was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

He was a graduate of Boston University Business School and BU Law. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1951 and the NH Bar in 1977. Most of Goethel’s legal career was spent working as an attorney for the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company in Boston, from which he retired in 1986. During that time, he resided in Needham, Mass.

Upon retirement, Goethel relocated to Hampton, NH, and spent his retirement fishing on his son David’s commercial fishing boat the "Ellen Diane" and fishing recreationally off the piers in Hampton and Seabrook.

He served on numerous boards and committees in his community during his lifetime and was an avid advocate of commercial and recreational fishermen’s rights to fish.

He is survived by his two sons, David T. Goethel of Hampton and Frederick S. Goethel of Lafayette, Ind.; a brother, T. Peter Goethel of Vista, Calif.; and grandchildren Eric, Daniel and Christina Goethel. He was predeceased by a sister, Yvonne Ciesluk of Wellesley, Mass., and a brother, Karl Goethel, who was killed in World War II.

Memorial donations may be made to the Northeast Seafood Coalition, P.O. Box 155, Essex, MA 01929.

Henry P. Sullivan

Henry P. Sullivan, 86, of Manchester, a former state senator and retired Manchester attorney, died April 24, 2003, at St. Teresa’s Health Care Center following a period of declining health.

He was born in Manchester on Aug. 21, 1916, the son of Phillip and Johanna Sheehan Sullivan. He attended St. Agnes School, Central High School and St. Anselm College, and received his bachelor of arts and law degrees from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. While attending law school, Sullivan worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Upon graduation from law school, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Force, attending officer candidate school in Miami Beach, Fla. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he met his future wife, Lt. Mary J. McCaffrey of Leominster, Mass.

During his five years in the military, Sullivan served in the Sicilian, Italian, Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland campaigns. At the time of his honorable dis charge, he had achieved the rank of major.

Upon leaving the military, he returned to Manchester to start his legal career and to raise his family and was admitted to the NH Bar in 1946. He served as the solicitor for the city of Manchester and was a partner in the firm of Green, Green, Romprey & Sullivan. Among his clients were the Manchester Housing Authority, the Sisters of the Holy Cross and the Sisters of Mercy. Attorney Sullivan also served as one of the first marital masters in the superior court system.

A stalwart New Hampshire Democrat, he served as chair of the Manchester Democratic City Committee, chair of the Hillsborough Democratic Committee, and Democratic National Committeeman for New Hampshire. He was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, the Manchester School Committee and the New Hampshire State Senate.

As a state senator, he worked for the successful enactment of legislation in 1967 to protect New Hampshire’s coastal marshes from dredging and filling, helping to save New Hampshire’s fragile coastline for the benefit of future generations.

Although he retired from elective office after his unsuccessful 1968 candidacy for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, he remained a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates. He was particularly active in the campaigns of his wife, Mary, who also served in the New Hampshire Legislature.

He was a member of numerous civic organizations, including the Notre Dame College Board of Trustees, founding member of St. Pius X Church, the American Legion (Sweeney Post), Retired Officers Association, Disabled American Veterans, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Knights of Columbus. He received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Notre Dame College and, in 1998, he was elected to the Central High School Hall of Fame.

He also received the C. Arthur and Lillian Soucy Award from the Manchester Democratic Committee. Another award was named after him and his wife – the Henry and Mary Sullivan Award was established by the Manchester Democratic Committee in 1999.

"The Democratic party in Manchester and New Hampshire suffered a great loss today," Manchester Democratic Chair Ray Buckley said in The Union Leader upon Sullivan’s death.

"Henry had a very strong personality and was always more than willing to offer his opinion and stand firmly on that opinion. If he was on your side, you had a warrior. I was always pleased to have Henry on my side. He was such a caring person who spent his entire life working for the people of Manchester."

He was the youngest of four children. His wife, former Rep. Mary J. Sullivan, died in 1997.

Family members include four daughters, SAU 19 Assistant School Superintendent Mary Heath of Manchester, Professor Ann Sullivan of Ithaca, N.Y., Manchester Community Television Director Dr. Grace L. Sullivan and attorney Kathleen N. Sullivan of Wadleigh, Starr & Peters, Manchester; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Theresa’s Healthcare Center, 519 Bridge St., Manchester 03104.

William H. Kelley

Well-known Manchester attorney and community leader William H. Kelley died April 25, 2003, at his home in Rye Beach after a battle with cancer. He was 60.

Born in Manchester May 14, 1942, he was the son of William H. and Elizabeth (Carty) Kelley. He was a graduate of Bishop Bradley High School, Boston College and Harvard Law School. He Served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1967-1968.

In 1971, Kelley formed the Law Offices of William H. Kelley, which is now known as Kelley & Tilsley, PA. He practiced in the areas of real estate and business law.

Kelley served as attorney, advisor and friend to many of Manchester’s business leaders. "Bill Kelley was an outstanding community leader and good friend to many….He will be truly missed," Gov. Craig Benson told The Union Leader.

Executive Councilor and former Manchester Mayor Raymond Wieczorek added, "Bill Kelley was an enormously successful attorney, but he never forgot his community roots. He wasn’t born to privilege, but felt privileged to have had good opportunities in his life, so he always did what he could to give back."

In 1986, Gov. John Sununu appointed Kelley to serve as a member of the NH Real Estate Commission, of which he served as chair from 1989 to 1999.

Kelley’s numerous other community and civic activities included serving as NH regional director for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, as chair of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Review Commission and as a member of the board of the Manchester YMCA. He was also a founding member of the board of directors of New Horizons of New Hampshire.

Kelley was an active fundraiser for the Bishop’s Fund and a member of the board of directors of Hesser College and of the President’s Circle of Boston College.

He was an avid and highly skilled skier, cyclist and tennis player.

Survivors include his wife, Catherine C. Kelley of Rye Beach; two sons, Matthew Kelley of Cave Creek, Ariz., and Jason Kelley of San Juan Capistrano, Calif; and a granddaughter.

Memorial donations may be made to the New Horizons/Soup Kitchen, 199 Manchester St., Manchester, NH 03103.

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