Jacob John Burghardt

Jacob John (Jack) Burghardt, 77, a former owner and publisher of the Carroll County Independent and the Granite State News, died of cancer September 24, 2002 at his home here. Born November 1, 1924 in Chicago, IL, he was a son of Philip and Elisabeth Riegel Burghardt. He graduated from Jones Commercial High School in Chicago and from Knox College, Galesburg, IL. He also studied at the University of Zurich and the Foreign Service Institute in Washington, D.C. Enlisting in the Army Air Force in 1943, he served with the 53rd Troop Carrier Wing in Europe. After graduating from Knox College, he joined the U. S. Department of State and was sent to Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar). He later transferred to the U. S. Information Agency but remained in Burma, his second assignment being Mandalay. For his work there he was presented with the Agency's Meritorious Service Award. He also served in Singapore, and in Indonesia, both in Jakarta and Jogjakarta. In 1958 he became director of Foster Parents Plan in Viet Nam, living in Saigon for four years, and in 1963 was named director of Plan's program in Athens, Greece. Returning to America in 1967, he assumed the duties of publisher of the Carroll County Independent and Granite State News, retiring in 1997. Sandwich Fair goers will remember his regular appearances on the newspaper's floats and entries in the fair parade. He was a past president of the New Hampshire Press Association and the New England Press Association and served on NEPA's board of directors for several years. He was also a board member of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors. During the late 1980s and early 1990s he organized and led a series of exchange seminars, in India and the United States, for American and Indian journalists and journalism professors, through the auspices of the U.S.-Indo Subcommission on Education and Culture. Always interested in horses and riding, he helped with the Sandwich Saddle-ites 4-H Horse Club in the 1970s. For several years he was a board member of The Barnstormers Theater in Tamworth, resigning this past summer. Family members include his wife of 44 years, Ann (Merrow); a daughter, Elisabeth M. Burghardt of Windsor, Vt.; a son, Peter L. Burghardt and wife Pamela of Wilmot; two grandsons, Jonathan D. B. Boutwell and Nicholas F. B. Boutwell, both of Windsor; a sister, Katherine Schnase of Ronan, Mt.; and nieces, nephews and cousins. A brother, Joseph, died in 2000. A memorial service will be held at St Andrews-in-the-valley, Tamworth, NH on Saturday, October 5th at 10A.M. Memorial donations may be made to either The Barnstormers Theater, Tamworth, 03886, or to The Sandwich Caregivers, Center Sandwich, 03227.