Richard Sprague Danforth

Richard Sprague Danforth (Dick), a City Planner died Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at Dartmouth Medical Center in Hanover, NH. He was 70. During Danforth's career he worked for UDC of New York State and the cities of Salinas and Freemont CA, Buffalo NY, Reno NV and Chelsea MA. As an urban redevelopment specialist Danforth left cities better than he found them. In Buffalo NY, he reshaped the downtown and waterfront areas, developed a nature preserve and secured funding for the Subway system. Danforth repeated his success in Chelsea MA with the development of Admirals Hill. He authored Master Plans for Saratoga Springs NY, Dartmouth College, New England College and Newtown NY. Danforth graduated from Dartmouth in 1954 where he ran the quarter mile and from the University of Pennsylvania in 1960 with a Masters Degree in City Planning. Danforth served in the Air Force during the Korean War, posted to Germany, and left the Air Force Reserves as a Major. In retirement, Danforth worked as a docent at the New Hampshire Historical Society and the Kearsarge Indian Museum. He resided at the Ragged Mountain Fish and Game Club on Ragged Mountain for 34 years. Survivors include his wife Nicole Danforth of Andover NH; his mother, Louise Sprague Danforth of Concord NH; children: Heidi Danforth of Boston, MA, Scott Danforth and James Danforth, both of Andover, NH; stepchildren: Kim McLaughlin of Marblehead, MA and David Gaw of San Rafael, CA; sisters: Ann Schultz of Dover, NH and Karen Wilkins of E Hampstead, NH; and four grandchildren. There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday, August 17th at 2:00 PM at Ragged Mountain Fish and Game Club in Andover. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Lions Club of Andover, c/o John Whitcomb, Andover, NH 03216.