Sidney 'Michael' Carlton

Jaffrey, New Hampshire

Sidney Griggs 'Michael' Carlton II, 64, of Jaffrey, died Sunday Nov. 30, 2008 at Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough, NH after a short illness.

Michael was born Nov. 28, 1944 in Punxsutawney, Pa. He was the son of the late 'Sid' and Louise (Warne) Carlton and had attended schools in Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton N.Y.

Michael began working for his family's newspaper in Punxsutawney before being recruited by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Later he would become Chief of the News Bureau for Bermuda and the Bermudian Government. Michael then worked as travel editor of the Dallas Times Herald before moving to Colorado where he was travel editor and a demanding restaurant critic for The Denver Post, while simultaneously writing a column for the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service. Michael then became the Features Editor at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

At that point in his career, Michael switched to magazines and moved to Birmingham, Ala., to work for a magazine called South Point. Michael then became the Editorial Director at Southern Living Magazine, which led to the opportunity to become Editor and Vice President of Coastal Living Magazine. All three publications are a subsidiary of TIME Inc.

In 2001, Michael became the Editor of Yankee Magazine until he retired in 2006. Following his retirement, he enjoyed being a freelance writer whose works appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Renovation Style, Accent, New England Home, New Hampshire Home and Town and Country.

Michael had a love for travel and all of nature's beauty. He was able to visit more than 150 countries as a travel writer and photo illustrated many of his articles. Through the years, Michael received numerous national writing awards, including the Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing.

In his free time, Michael was an avid gardener and fly fisherman. He was a judge for the Southern Environmental Preservation Awards and he was a lover of all animals, especially his dogs.

Michael is survived by his wife of eight years, Stacy Kunstel, of Jaffrey; his daughter, Lauren Carlton, of Austin, Texas; his sister, Mary Louise M.L. Carlton, of Indiana, Pa., and his two dogs, Lizzie and Friday.

Friends are encouraged to make memorial donations to their local animal shelter, or to the American Red Cross, National Public Radio or any public television station.

Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.

In lieu ofcalling hours, family and friends are warmly invited to attend a memorial gathering on Friday, December 5, from 1 PM to 7 PM at 9 Ellison Street in Jaffrey.