Beloved Newport Resident Frederick Spaulding Jr. Dies at 74

Frederick Lucien Spaulding Jr., 74, of Newport, N.H., died December 20, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Born February 26, 1951, he was the son of Frederick Lucien Spaulding and Sheila (Boutwell) Spaulding. His family described him as a devoted presence at grandchildren’s games, an avid angler, and someone who treasured time spent with relatives.

Spaulding’s passing removes a familiar face from Sullivan County’s social fabric. He lived in Newport and maintained family connections across the area; those ties will be evident when community members gather to celebrate his life. The family has scheduled a celebration of life for January 10 at the Elks Club in Claremont. The event offers an opportunity for neighbors, friends, and extended family to pay respects and support one another.

Local civic organizations and informal networks often rely on personal gatherings to sustain community bonds, and memorial events such as the one planned for Spaulding serve that role. For many in small towns like Newport and Claremont, attendance at sporting events and shared outdoor activities create the everyday social capital that underpins volunteer efforts, school support, and civic engagement. Spaulding’s reputation for attending grandchildren’s games reflects that community rhythm, where family involvement and public life overlap.

Beyond his family roles and recreational interests, Spaulding’s life will be remembered in the personal stories neighbors and relatives share at the Elks Club gathering. Funeral and memorial events also provide practical occasions for coordinating community support for surviving family members and for documenting local histories that are otherwise informal and oral.

Residents planning to attend the January 10 celebration may expect to encounter members of multiple local families and civic groups. The gathering will give Sullivan County residents a formal moment to acknowledge a well-known local presence and to reinforce the community networks that support families through loss. Arrangements beyond the scheduled celebration were made by the family.