Loring Webster

Born Newell Loring Webster, Jr., but called Loring throughout his life, the beloved husband of Ann Christine Somers died peacefully at home in his sleep on August 28, 2024. Born in Stoneham, Massachusetts, on December 11, 1934, Loring graduated from Northeastern University as president of his class, and made a career first with computers and then with space engineering.

He married Emilie Seely in 1957 and adopted her son Jonathan. They had three children together: David, Peter, and Stephen, leading over the years to several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Peter has kindly taken over the care of the family genealogy records, which have become too complicated to detail here. 

Following divorces, he and Ann met in 1974 at a Parents Without Partners gathering with a square dancing theme. The square dancing became a shared hobby of many years. Loring and Ann combined families with the kids in their teens (yes, challenging to all!), and were married in the back field of their Pepperell home in 1977.

After retiring early (unexpectedly!) from Avco/Textron, Loring found the highlight of his career working at The Ultra Corporation in support of a radar site in Shemya, Alaska, to which he traveled periodically and where he earned the name UltraMan. 

With the children living their own lives, he and Ann swapped their wallpapered farmhouse in Pepperell, MA, for an open post-and-beam in Brookline, NH, just 7 miles up the road into a new world, a small town which came to feel like it was their home town. Dragooned early on by one of the Town Fathers, Loring chaired the committee which led to the new Police addition to the Safety Complex. He was a founding and active member of the local CERT organization which grew out of a major flooding event at the base of our hill. He became a Library Trustee in Brookline, and then at state level. He recently achieved 30-year membership in the Nashua Granite Statesmen barbershop chorus, a men’s group which competed at the international level and included delightful travel opportunities over the years. He and three buddies formed their own local quartet, Just Four Now, and found that our sunken P&B living room provided perfect acoustics for their rehearsals. Singing Valentines were a favorite activity. 

He lived a good and loving life. His essence remains among those who loved and knew him. 

The kind thoughts and remembrances offered have been deeply comforting. No flowers or gifts, please, but anyone who considers it important to make a memorial gift is invited to consider Home Health and Hospice Care of Merrimack, the New Hampshire Library Trustees Association, or the Nashua Granite States.