Comfortable New Yr – Welcome to the 12 months 2023 and its unknown adventures. Earlier than leaving 2022, you will need to be aware one other main loss New Hampshire has suffered. On December 9, Dr. James W. Squires handed away. In some ways, Jim Squires was New Hampshire’s “first citizen”, having lived an exemplary lifetime of service. He was remembered on the basic New Hampshire funeral service at Hollis Congregational Church on December 17.
Jim Squires was born in New London in 1937 and, by his personal admission, had an enthralling childhood in that idyllic little faculty city. His father, c. Duane Squires, Chair of the Historical past Division at Colby Junior School (now Colby Sawyer), in addition to State Historian. Jim excelled in class and sports activities, impressing his fellow townspeople. After graduating from highschool, he secured an appointment to the Naval Academy, the place he taught for 2 years earlier than transferring to Williams School to pursue a pre-med.
After faculty, he was accepted into the McGill Medical School in Montreal. Based on a speaker at his funeral, a neighborhood resident agreed to lend Squires cash to attend McGill, and after he graduated with honors, introduced an envelope studying “Mortgage paid in full”. Jim Squires by no means forgot this generosity and his contribution to his success.
At house, Jim dated the lady on the yard fence, Jean Austin, daughter of Colby Jr.’s boss. They married and cast many years of partnership in a strong marriage that produced a devoted and proficient household.
After navy service, Squires started his medical profession in Boston and observed issues with how medical providers had been offered and funded. He and a number of other fellow physicians began New Hampshire’s first well being upkeep group, the Matthew Thornton Well being Plan, which he served as president, whereas persevering with an energetic surgical follow. One in every of his primary ideas was to “see the affected person as an individual, not as a process.”
After transferring to Hollis in 1971, He grew to become concerned with the group, serving as superintendent of the town, college district, and congregational church, every over a interval of many years.
His service to the town led to political involvement, and Squires ran for the New Hampshire Senate as a average Republican in 1996. He was usually the one Republican vote in sure positions.
In 2000, involved in regards to the equity of the state’s tax construction, particularly because it impacts college funding, Squires ran for the Republican nomination for governor. His son Mark instructed many anecdotes from the marketing campaign, together with someday once they had been heading to an occasion that confirmed lots of indicators of opposition in an space the place there have been a lot of gun supporters, and he requested, “What is the plan?” His father mentioned, “We’ll go and inform them Our positions. Mark was wanting to plan an escape route!
Squires has accepted the presidency of the brand new Endowment for Well being, which was set as much as obtain and administer funds paid out when the nonprofit Blue Cross/Blue Protect was acquired by Anthem. From 2001 onwards, he helped form the muse’s mission and oversaw the distribution of $33 million to meritorious organizations targeted on state well being. Those that take into account organizations regard his administration because the gold normal for group administration and management.
He retired from the establishment and loved his retirement years at Hollis and on the household house on Sunapee Lake in New London. After the demise of his spouse, after 52 years of marriage, the household house was transformed and he lived along with his son Mark and his household for the remainder of his life.
Jim Squires obtained many honors for his service, nevertheless, his legacy was a humble and steadfast instance to all he met, whether or not sufferers, colleagues, buddies or supporters. It was an awesome instance of find out how to stay and serve. I used to be fortunate to know him, and we had been all fortunate to have him right here.
Brad Cooke is a Manchester barrister, chair of the State Suffrage Legislation Fee and co-chair of the Secretary of State’s Voter Confidence Committee. The opinions expressed on this column are his personal. He might be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.