Bruce J. Parsons (1954-2026)

Bruce J. Parsons was born early on the morning of November 16, 1954, on Staten Island, NY, the second of three children of Frank E. Parsons and Lorraine Marie Reed Parsons. He spent his first 14 years residing in Eltingville. At an early age he was introduced to Lake Sunapee, NH, where the family took their summer vacations, renting a cabin at Sargent’s Lakeshore Cottages. They visited almost every year until 1964, when they were encouraged to purchase a permanent second home. In November of that year, they took possession of a 48-acre farm on Prospect Hill Road in Georges Mills. From 1965 through 1968 they spent their full summers there. After the summer of 1968 Bruce and his sisters told their parents they were moving to Georges Mills. The family took up full-time residence in November 1968. Bruce graduated from Sunapee High School in 1972. He attended Portland School of Art in Portland, ME, and transferred to Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH. Bruce graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art, with a concentration in Photography and Ceramics, and received the Departmental Art Award.

In 1975 Bruce was employed by the Star Island Corporation as a seasonal “Pelican,” the name given to the 100-plus college-age staff. Star Island is a religious and educational conference center off the coast of New Hampshire. That first season began a lifelong connection. Bruce remained as a Pelican until 1981, having worked as the head of the Carpentry Crew, Paint Crew, Fire Department Chief, and Island Photographer. He was elected in 1981 to become a Lifetime Member of the Star Island Corporation. He was involved in multiple volunteer positions, serving on the Facilities Committee for 45 years, Board of Directors Member and Vice President of the Board, co-author of the Islands Zoning Ordinance, and Chair of the Property Standards Committee overseeing the zoning ordinances. Bruce also worked on design projects for the neighboring island of Appledore. His favorite project was the design, oversight, and reconstruction of the White Island Lighthouse covered walkway on neighboring White Island. In 2006 he published a collection of his photographs and memories of Star Island, titled Star Light: Thirty Years of Photographs.”

Bruce met his future wife, Carole Horton, in the winter of 1981, and they were married in 1983. They moved to New London and built their forever home in 1985. Their first son Ryan was born in 1986 and second son Andrew in 1988. Together they created a “park-like” landscape on their five acres of land, Carole focusing on gardens and Bruce on sculptural hardscapes. Their efforts were featured in 2024 as one of six “secret gardens” by the New London Garden Club and published in the September/October issue of New Hampshire Home Magazine.

Bruce became a very successful Residential Architectural Designer, designing houses in many states in the U.S., mostly in New England. He won more than a dozen architectural design awards and was featured in over 20 magazine articles.

Bruce continued producing fine art photographs and was a long-time member of the New Hampshire Art Association, winning many awards for his work. Later in life, he began painting landscapes again. He loved to bike and hike and finished almost half of the 48 mountains in New Hampshire that are 4,000 feet or higher.

Bruce lived a life of volunteering, a trait he inherited from his father, Frank Parsons. He served the town of New London as chair of the Recreation Commission, the Recreation Task Force, multiple building committees, chair of the Tracy Memorial Library Board of Directors, and the Police Advisory Committee. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, serving as a Deacon, Trustee, and member of the Board of Christian Education and Building Committee. He was part of the full exterior renovation of the Historic Sanctuary, the restoration of the Bell clock, and the successful effort to get the 1826 sanctuary on the National Register of Historic Places. Bruce designed the Transportation Museum at the New London Historical Society. As Assistant Scoutmaster and committee chairperson for New London’s Boy Scout Troop 71, he founded and sponsored the troop’s annual White Mountain huts hiking trips.

Bruce served as President of the Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Unit of the American Cancer Society and was a Board Member of the Friends of Dartmouth Cancer Center, and served on the Prouty Executive Committee and as an active participant in the annual Prouty fundraising event.

Bruce is survived by his wife Carole, sons Ryan (Laura Young) and Andrew, grandson Elliott, and sisters Patricia (Douglas Hall) and Diane. He is predeceased by his parents, infant daughter Margot, and nephew Joshua Hall.

A celebration of life is planned for late spring of 2026. Details to come.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the annual Prouty event: getinvolved.dartmouth-hitchcock.org

Please be sure to note your donation is in memory of Bruce Parsons.