John Colby Jr. ’77

John died Feb. 1, 2016, with his family beside him.

John graduated from Laconia (N.H.) High School in 1972. He quarterbacked and punted for both Laconia High School and the New Hampshire Shrine team. He was chosen as one of the “Top 100 Backs in America” by Kickoff magazine in 1971. He led the Sachems to a 15-2-1 record in his junior and senior years and a Division II championship in 1970.

In baseball, John and teammate Lee Sturdivant pitched Laconia to the Class L Championship in 1972. John delivered the game-ending hit to defeat Keene in the championship game.

After Princeton, he earned his doctorate in sociology at the University of New Hampshire and worked in the health field. John served as director of medical research and development for Healthsource New Hampshire, and as a planning analyst for Public Health Services (New Hampshire). At the time of his death, he was an environmental epidemiologist for the state of New Hampshire.

He was a very charming and witty man with a sense of humor that dominated his personality — he made you laugh!

John is survived by the love of his life, his daughter, Hannah, to whom he was a devoted and loving father. Also surviving him are his mother, Estelle Colby; sister Ann Talton; brothers Bill and Curt; and nieces and nephews Will, Jenny, Jake, Leah, Stephen, Chelsea, Trevour, Chrisanne, and Ali.