Hillsborough, NH – Gary Spencer Sparks Sr. of Hillsborough NH passed away peacefully on April 9th holding the hands of his wife, daughter and son. Even though a failing heart took him away from this world, his loving heart was a beacon of light to everyone that knew him.
Gary grew up in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, where he learned to love sailing ships, trains, the Harley Show, and Tastykake pies. He spoke fondly of his “days in the old neighborhood” and the friends he made there.
Gary was a historian, and an expert on the Civil War and Franklin Pierce. A graduate of Washington College with a degree in American Studies, he taught US history for many years at Lake Forest High School in Felton, DE, and later at John Stark in Weare, NH. Even decades later, former students recall his class as a defining part of their high school experience. He never met a book on the Civil War he hadn’t read.
After moving to Hillsborough, he became an active member of the community. He joined the Hillsborough Historical Society, and served as a docent at the Franklin Pierce Homestead and the at Pierce Manse in Concord. He is remembered for the elaborate Christmas Gardens at the Heritage Museum. He set them up, he said, so he could play with his trains.
He served on the town Planning Board, for many years as the chair, and on the Smith Memorial Church Council. He knew how to run a good meeting.
He is remembered fondly by the families of the children he cared for at Homecoming Childcare, which he and his late wife Bethany opened in their home. There was always a waiting list. After her passing, he and his wife Marjorie established Hillsborough Early Learning, where he continued to open doors for children.
Gary loved Beethovan, Brahms, The Blind Boys, and Johnny Cash. He tortured his wife by playing Elvis at Christmas. He enjoyed Broadway plays, classic movies, Shakespeare, and Married with Children.
He loved going to the Boston Symphony, Harper’s Ferry, New York City, Washington DC, and Rehoboth Beach, especially to Grotto’s Pizza and Dollies Popcorn. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean five times, on the QE2 and the Queen Mary.
He loved his cats Baby, Peach, Lucky, Moe, Little Cat, Jake, and Elwood; nature, feeding the birds, and taking walks. He was a great cook and baker who made the best pancakes, Sparks Spaghetti, burgers, and crab cakes. He loved spending time with his family, settling down with a good book and a hot cup of tea, or turning on an old movie on the TV. His home is filled with the model ships he built.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Porter, and her children Katherine and Benjamin; his son, Gary Jr. and his wife Christine; his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Hank Cole; and his beloved grandchildren Renee, Rachel, and Spencer Sparks; Dillon and Bryce Cole, and many great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his loving wife Bethany (Edwards) Sparks; his parents William Spencer Sparks and Margaret (Pym) Sparks; and his sister Maureen and brother Michael.
The Hillsborough Heritage Museum will be open on Sunday, April 26 from 1-3 pm for those who wish to pay their respects and see the work he has done there. A Celebration of Life will be held later in the spring.
Donations in his honor can be made to the Hillsborough Historical Society, 5 Central Street, Hillsboro NH 03244. or to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD.
Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Manchester.
To view Gary’s Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit https://csnh.com.
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