Albert James Myer V, better known as Bert, died August 22 at Portsmouth Regional Hospital after a short stay. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia on March 17, 1944 to Gretchen and Albert James Myer IV. They moved to Oyster Bay, NY before settling in Marblehead, MA. Bert went to St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, graduating in 1962. He went on to the University of New Hampshire where he played freshman and varsity hockey and was a member of Acacia Fraternity. An avid reader, Bert met his future wife Ann Elizabeth Ward in a Robert Browning class. Drafted immediately after graduation in 1967, he spent a year in Vietnam just as the war was starting to escalate.
Ann and Bert were married in 1970 and lived in Marblehead but soon moved to Hampstead, NH where they resided for 40 years before moving to Stratham, NH. Their daughter Alison was born in 1977.
Following his military service, Bert worked for 12 years in Polaroid’s Editorial and Marketing Communications departments. After Polaroid, Bert became editor of the Woodstove Directory, a national magazine that promoted alternative energy products. Bert later set up his own Marketing Communications company that he ran until his retirement.
Bert was a long-term member and later president of the NH YMCA Board of Directors and chairperson of the Board of Directors for YMCA Camp Coniston in Grantham, NH, a camp his daughter Ali went to as a camper and counselor and is now attended by his two grandsons.`
Bert had a huge personality. He loved reading history and discussing politics, often switching from one side to another just for fun. He had friends dating back to his childhood, keeping in touch by phone, email, and travel. Bert was outgoing in any company.
Bert loved sailing, playing golf, and skiing. He was an accomplished photographer, constantly taking pictures wherever he went from New Hampshire to New Zealand. But his greatest passion was 6-wicket croquet. He founded the Hampstead Croquet Club and was a member of the Strawbery Banke and Edgartown Croquet clubs. He played in tournaments throughout the United States and Bermuda, was a coach for the Harvard University team, and was ranked highly as a USCA player. In 2016, he was inducted into the National Croquet Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to the game.
Bert was predeceased by his parents and his brother Carl. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Ann, his cherished daughter Alison and her husband Ryan of Brentwood, NH, and his wonderful grandsons Ronan, 12, and Fintan, 10 who are following in his hockey footsteps. He is also survived by a large group of cousins, many whom he saw at a recent family reunion, and a truly great group of friends.
Donations in Bert’s name may be sent to YMCA Camp Coniston in Grantham, New Hampshire.
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