Brian Faughnan of Wilmot passed away on August 1st, 2016. He was the son of Patrick J. Faughnan and Barbara Gordon Faughnan.
Quick witted, curious and a life-long learner, Brian had a scientific mind and an appreciation for theatre, dance, and music. He was always open to new perspectives, always reading across the disciplines, and seeking out new ways of asking age-old questions. Brian was always available to lead discussions about a broad range of topics including politics and religion.
Nature lured him. He canoed, rowed, hiked, biked, skied, snowshoed, and camped. We remember him hiking up Mount Washington in winter and cycling up Mount Washington in summer, cross country skiing in fresh new powder, or rowing a single scull on Kezar Lake. He devoted much of his energy and intellect to preserving the natural environment and promoting access with Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, the Wilmot Conservation Committee and the SRK Greenway Coalition. He could often be found at his computer, crunching GIS data to create the SRK Greenway Trail Guide maps.
We remember Brian entertaining friends and family, preparing gin and tonics, and cooking on the grill. Or he was in his study completing a project, or teaching himself a new gadget or technology. Reading or working at his computer, there was usually a purring cat by his side.
Brian spent a lot of time in the company of his wife Barbara, his only daughter Kelly, and since 2001, his son-in-law, Bjarne Holmes, as well as extended family and friends. Barbara and Brian were together for over 50 years, and would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this coming November.
He lived the first 24 years of his life in Montreal, graduating from McGill University with a degree in Engineering Physics. Graduate school brought him south of the border, to Cambridge, MA, where he completed his PhD in physics at MIT. Right out of graduate school, he started his first and last job as a research physicist in Princeton, NJ. The company changed names a few times, but he worked happily in the same lab space for 40 years, receiving several awards for his research accomplishments.. Retirement in 1999 was a smooth transition. Brian and Barbara designed their new home in Wilmot, NH and quickly embedded themselves in the local community.
Brian is survived by his wife Barbara Faughnan (Bunker), daughter Kelly Faughnan, son-in-law, Bjarne Holmes; siblings: Frank Faughnan of Ste. Anne, PQ, Lou Kelly of St. Sauveur, PQ, and Barbara Anger and her husband David of San Francisco, CA. Also surviving is his sister-in-law Betty Lovejoy of Concord, NH and Sally Smith of Ft. Myers, FL and many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
A future memorial gathering will be held at their home in September. Memorial contributions can be directed to the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, 71 Pleasant St., New London, NH and Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice, 107 Newport Road, New London, NH 03257.