Harry B. Thayer III, 81, of Exeter, N.H., died Dec. 27.
Thayer began his career at a Hampton, N.H., newspaper, after learning in a school how to repair and operate Linotype machines.
Thayer then was hired by his father to work at The Exeter (N.H.) News-Letter, where he later was editor and co-publisher. He eventually became vice president and treasurer of the family-owned Exeter News-Letter Co., which published 13 weekly newspapers in the area before it was sold to the Ottaway Newspapers Inc. chain, He was also president of Rockingham County Newspapers in New Hampshire, and later founded Thayer Printing Co. Inc. in Exeter N.H.
In the early days of his newspaper career, Thayer was a volunteer firefighter with the Exeter Fire Department. He later was vice president of the Exeter Firemen’s Relief Association, president of the Seacoast Chief Fire Officers’ Mutual Aid District, and deputy chief of the Exeter Fire Department.
Thayer also held several positions with the town of Exeter, including president of the Economic Development Commission, chairman of the Budget Recommendations Committee, a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and a member of the Exeter Parks and Pool Committee.
He leaves his wife, Janice; four children, Melissa, Heather, Christopher and Amanda; seven grandchildren; three siblings.
The obituaries were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin correspondents Ashleane Alabre, Sophie Cannon, Jenna Ciccotelli, Nico Hall, Bailey Knecht, Joshua Leaston, Hope Oje, and Julia Preszler, undergraduate students at Northeastern University.