Alden Carroll Center

Alden Carroll Center of Amherst died on April 10, 2005 at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Fisher Center, whom he married in 1954, and their children: Gail Center of Huntington, VT, Lauren Ledoux of Chichester, Rebecca Center of Ashland, MA, and Claudia Center of San Francisco, CA. Their only son, Paul, died in 1995. Alden and Barbara celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last summer at a family reunion held at the Mileaway Restaurant. Mr. Center is also survived by a sister, Deanna Holt, and her husband, Alan Holt, of Nashua, a brother, Clarke Center, and his partner Carole Reed, of Keene, and a sister-in-law, Cathryn Center, of Chelmsford, MA, wife of his brother Bruce, who died in 1987. Additional survivors include a daughter-in-law Carol Center of Tilton, sons-in-law Gene Bell of Huntington, VT, Brian Ledoux of Chichester, and Andre LaMontagne of Ashland, MA, grandchildren Nicole Center of Franklin, Danielle Center of Tilton, Katherine Ledoux of Chichester, and Josue Center of Ashland, MA, step-granddaughter Danielle LaMontagne of Brighton, MA, and great-grandson Calvin Paul Center of Franklin. Mr. Center’s father was Carroll H. Center and his mother was Winona Frye Center, both of Wilton and Lyndeboro, NH. Mr. Center was educated in local schools of Lyndeboro and Milford. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1949 with a BA degree in English and from Boston University in 1951 with an MA degree in English History and Literature. He served in the United States Air Force from 1951-1955, with duty in Korea from 1952-1953. In 1955 he joined the Group Insurance Department of American Mutual Insurance located in Boston and later in Wakefield, MA. After working in the company’s home office and various field offices in Connecticut and Virginia, he was assigned to the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, AM Life Insurance Company in 1980, and elected Assistant Vice President in 1985. That same year he earned the professional designation Fellow Life Management Institute (FMLI) of the Life Office Management Association. He retired in 1988 and continued to work for the company as a consultant until 1992. Mr. Center was a valued leader in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Milford, serving as President, Treasurer, and on numerous committees. He was also President of the New Hampshire/ Vermont District of Unitarian Universalist Societies for several years. He was Co-Director and a driver for Fish Volunteers (Friends in Service Helping) for many years. He enjoyed hiking, classical music, and travelling with Barbara to Elderhostels throughout the country. He had a well-known green thumb and was an avid reader of literature and history. He always considered his family his most treasured asset and interest. A service to celebrate his life is planned for Saturday, April 16, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 20 Elm Street, Milford. Donations in his memory may be made to SHARE, P.O. Box 27, Milford, NH 03055.