C Jerome Underwood

C. Jerome “Jerry” Underwood, 88, of Peterborough, NH, died peacefully, on May 1, 2017 at Summerhill Assisted Living, with his wife beside him.

He was born, in Oyster Bay, NY, on September 18, 1928, the son of Dorothy (Hartshorn) and Clinton Jerome Underwood. He grew up in Gardner, Massachusetts. As a youth, he enjoyed times with extended family and close friends, swimming, playing hockey, and sailing. He won sailing trophies and built a sail boat that he donated to Camp Collier. Jerry graduated from Gardner High School in 1946, where he earned numerous varsity sports letters while he was on the baseball, football, and swimming teams. He was senior class president, and was identified in the senior yearbook as “Best all around”. He went on to post graduate studies at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. where he graduated in 1947. He graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. in 1951. He enlisted in the US Army in 1951, received training in the Russian language, and was stationed in Germany. He attended the Tuck School of Business following his honorable discharge in 1954.

Jerry was employed in the hardwood lumber industry for forty-five years by The Atlantic Lumber Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and Bear Paw Lumber Corporation. He presided over hardwood lumber sales throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Jerry married Doris Krauss, in 1956. They resided in Verona and Cedar Grove, New Jersey; Andover, Massachusetts; and Eaton, New Hampshire. In Eaton Jerry was a member of the Planning Board. Jerry and Doris retired to Peterborough to be closer to family and to the Underwood Farm, a family homestead since 1796 where he spent many hours playing as a child and maintaining it’s upkeep as an adult and swimming in nearby Gilmore Pond.

Jerry was generous and helped many people. He avoided the spotlight and focused on others’ accomplishments. He enjoyed his daily walks around the neighborhood with Doris and their dog, Max, as well as the solitary pursuits of cutting trees with his chainsaw and trimming brush. He rarely endured an idle moment. Many will remember his graciousness and the mischievous twinkle of his eyes.

He is survived by Doris, his wife of over sixty years; his son Christopher and wife Fiona Bennie and their three sons, Campbell, Alistair, and Tristan of Watertown, MA; son, Jerome, of Jaffrey, NH; three daughters, Kelly Lydon and her children Matthew and Chelsea of Geneva, IL; Michele Underwood of Corvallis, MT and Colorado Springs, CO; Kimberly Levy and her husband, Todd, of Austin, TX and their daughters, Sarah and Rachel; and by his cousins who remained dear to him throughout his life. He is predeceased by his sister, Deborah Brown.

At Jerry’s request, there will be no public calling hours or services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Monadnock Community Hospital (www.monadnockcommunityhospital.com), 452 Old Street Rd, Peterborough, NH 03458 or to the Peterborough Fire and Rescue Association, (www.firerescue.us), 16 Summer St., Peterborough, NH 03458.