John Braman Pendleton
John Braman Pendleton Obituary
John Braman Pendleton ascended to his final peak on the morning of September 26, 2022, surrounded by his loving children. John was born on July 28, 1936, in Bronxville, N.Y. to Erma Fay Stoecker and Leonard Thurston Pendleton. He spent his early years in Pelham, N.Y. and later moved to Shaker Heights Ohio where he attended high school at the University School. John earned his B.A. from Amherst College in 1958 and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1962. In 1960 John married Georgia Weston Anderson and moved to Concord NH to practice law and pursue his love of NH’s nature. The couple welcomed four children into their lives, Cynthia, (Bill Cronin); Julia Braman; John Thurston, (Sarah Pendleton); and Richard Brigham, (Claudia Kaerner). John, Georgia, and their children enjoyed an extremely active and loving life with their shared devotion to the outdoors, sailing, hiking, tennis, and skiing. The couple were loved by Concord friends and families and involved in constant social engagements, tennis and swimming clubs, and organizations.
After Georgia’s passing in 1979, John married Elizabeth Vail Carruthers (Betsy) in 1980. John embraced Betsy’s six children, Sam; Laura; Peter (Liz), Nancy; Ted; and Elizabeth,(Larry Closson). He adored each of his sixteen grandchildren taking them on their traditional “Grampa Hikes” and supporting each in their individual endeavors. In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, John leaves a loving sister, Cynthia, and (Harry Rubicam) of Scottsdale, AZ. John was welcomed and loved by so many in his extended families.
John practiced law for 35 years in Concord and had a multitude of impressive accomplishments that could fill The Globe’s Sunday sports section! Highlights of his legal career include closing deals with the likes of Ted Williams and Bobby Orr, co-authoring the NH Condominium Act, creating the first shareholder owned mutual savings banks in the U.S., representing Pennichuck Water Works and arguing cases before the NH Supreme Court. He liked to tell how he wove in a quote from Howard Cosell about Muhammad Ali into a Supreme Court oral argument. John was the youngest president of the NH Bar Association and served on for-profit and not-for-profit boards throughout his life.
John served as Trustee of the Board at Proctor Academy after two of his children attended the school. His love of Proctor inspired him to leave the practice of law at the age of 61 to pursue his lifelong dream of teaching. He joined the faculty at Proctor in its English Department. John and Betsy became dorm parents and mentors to a group of young women. In him, Proctor found a man who was always learning, always growing, and always seeking to make an impact.
Remembering John Pendleton P'85, '88, GP '00, '13, '15, '20 (proctoracademy.org)
At 70, John and Betsy moved to Truro, MA, in a house bordered by Pamet Harbor and Cape Cod to enjoy sunsets and beach picnics. In 2015, they moved to York, Maine to be closer to their children living in the Seacoast region. Once again, John began to serve his community working with the York Land Trust and joining the First Parish Congregational Church. The Church Community has been a blessing to both John and Betsy.
John was a devoted father, husband, and friend with a love of life, people, and nature. John’s warmth drew in all with those blue eyes, smile and unwavering and intense interest in the lucky ones he encountered. He had a pizzaz unequaled, a devotion unchallenged and an intelligence that would spin heads. John possessed a wicked sense of humor and silliness that would often emerge with a creative poem, play, newsletter, or prank. John was a lover of the arts, music, an avid historian, reader, and writer, completing his book of memoirs in 2015, “Together”. John was tough whether playing a sport, trying a case, or fighting a disease. The determination he continued to show to get stronger and come home from the hospital after his operations was remarkable and extremely affecting to those who cared for him and his visiting children. John B. Pendleton was loved and will be remembered for all that he gave and all the lives he touched.
A memorial service will be held at the First Parish Church, 180 York Street in York, Maine at 1:00 pm, October 8th , 2022.
PLEASE OMIT FLOWERS. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory can be made to the John Pendleton Scholarship Fund at Proctor Academy online here or mailed to PO Box 389, Andover, NH 03216. Questions can be directed to giving@proctoracademy.org.
