G. Stewart Lamprey

MEREDITH, N.H. - Former N.H. House Speaker Stewart Lamprey, who had a long and distinguished career in state government, died Wednesday, April 4. He was 96. Mr. Lamprey spent the last four years at Golden View in Meredith, where he received excellent care. State Sen. Lou D' Allesandro said: "Stewart Lamprey was a great statesman and an innovator who understood what government was supposed to accomplish. He worked diligently to ensure that government lived up to its responsibilities. He was a wonderful friend and mentor." Mr. Lamprey's son, George Lamprey of Center Harbor, said: "Few people had a greater influence on the legislative process and public policy in New Hampshire in the last half of the last century than did Stewart Lamprey. I once heard it said that when an old man dies, a library burns - and this was a big library." Mr. Lamprey was elected to the House in 1951 and served five terms, serving as speaker from 1959 to 1964. He was elected president of the state Senate three times, serving from 1965 to 1969. He became campaign manager for Republican Walter Peterson in his successful run for governor in 1968, and served as Peterson's senior executive officer for two terms. Secretary Of State Bill Gardner said: "Stewart Lamprey has the unique honor of being the only person to be elected to three consecutive terms as both Speaker of the NH House and President of the NH Senate, going directly from one office to the other without interruption. He resigned as senate president in this third term in March, 1969 only because President Richard Nixon appointed him Deputy Under-Secretary of Commerce to head up the New England Regional Commission, with offices in both Washington and Boston. Stew later served as top advisor to his close friend Governor Walter Peterson during the four years of that administration. These kinds of honors could only happen to a person who was a man of his word, tough enough to lead, but trusted because he was a fair man, and a straight shooter, successful and respected throughout his long life in both government and private business. Stew was a warm friend and colleague, and will be greatly missed by his many friends throughout the country and GraniteState." G. Stewart Lamprey was born on April 8, 1921 in Dorchester, Mass., the son of Robert J. Lamprey and Mary Hunter Campbell. The family moved to Moultonborough, N.H., when he was still young. He was educated at Meredith High School, graduating in 1939, and Concord Business College, where he graduated in 1940. He served in the Army from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. He and his brother, Robert Lamprey, partnered at Lamprey & Lamprey REALTORS. He established NH Business Sales, a statewide commercial real estate firm in 1979. He served as President of the Lakes Region Board of REALTORS in 1951 and again in 1977. He was President of the State Association of REALTORS in 1952-1953. He was named N.H. Realtor of the Year in 1998. In 2004, Meredith-Center Harbor Chamber of Commerce gave the Citizen of the Year Award jointly to Stewart and Robert Lamprey. Mr. Lamprey served on the board of trustees at Mary Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover from 1971 to 1977. He received an honorary doctorate law degree from Belknap College in 1969, and an honorary doctorate of letters degree from Nathaniel Hawthorne College in 1970. In 1968, Mr. Lamprey received both the state Conservation Achievement Award and the National Conservation Award from the National Wildlife Federation. He received the North Country Conservation Award in 1970. In 1942, Mr. Lamprey married Margaret Watson Lamprey, who died in 1977. His second marriage was to Cynthia Hurd Lamprey, who died in 2013. He survived by his son George S. Lamprey Jr. of Center Harbor, NH, his daughter, Diane Kemp of Concord, NH; his grandchild, Sean Kemp and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three stepchildren: Scott and Kevin Kirby, and Jill Kirby Platts. Calling hours will be Tuesday, April 17 from 5-7pm at Mayhew Funeral Home, 204 Daniel Webster HWY, Meredith. A Memorial Service will take place at the funeral home on Wednesday, April 18 at 11am. Memorial donations may be made in Stewart's memory to Moultonborough Historical Society, PO Box 659, Moultonborough, NH. 03254 or the Lakes Region Visiting Nurses Association, 186 Waukewan St, Meredith, NH. 03253

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G. Stewart Lamprey

April 8, 1921 - April 4, 2018