Calvin H. Huckins Jr., 88

HOLDERNESS — Calvin Harry Huckins Jr., 88, of Holderness, died peacefully a year ago in the early morning hours of Jan. 4, 2024, at Speare Memorial Hospital after a sudden illness.

He was born on Nov. 5, 1936, at the family home, the Dick Brown Farm, in Bridgewater, to Calvin Harry Huckins Sr. and Mabel Carrie (Patten) Huckins. He was educated in Bristol schools, graduating in the class of 1954. For his 10th birthday, his mother gifted him a horse named Sarah and he spoke highly of both of them.

He attended his freshman year at Keene Teachers College and transferred to Plymouth Teachers College where he earned his bachelor of education in 1958. He taught at Inter-Lakes High School, at Brewster Academy and Bristol High School. He did further graduate work at Middlebury College, Vermont, and Vanderbilt University earning two master's degrees in 1960 and 1966. He was instrumental in planning for the installation of a state-of-the-art language laboratory at the Bristol High School facility. It was installed where Calvin wanted it and to his specifications.

While at Middlebury College in 1964, he accepted a position at Hanover Jr.-Sr. High School from 1965 until 1968. He was the director of the language laboratory at Dartmouth College for the Peace Corps. trainees destined to go to French-speaking West Africa. He trained a technician to handle a language laboratory in Ouagadougou, then in Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso. He had to deliver his volunteer to Ste. Anne De La Pocatiere, Quebec, at the completion of the special assignment detail.

The family returned to their home in Bristol and Mr. Huckins resumed his position at Newfound Memorial Jr.-Sr. High School for another 15 years, withdrawing from teaching entirely in 1983 at age 46 and "retired" to a family farm in Holderness. He gave himself a luxury vacation for his 59th birthday and flew on the SST Le Concorde to London, Paris, and while in Brussels visiting his youngest daughter, he took the Chunnel train (under the English Channel). He also enjoyed traveling within the United States.

He successfully completed the Patten and Huckins family genealogies. His ability to recall many dates and events of years past and present was truly remarkable. Calvin enjoyed crossword puzzles and history, especially the Civil War, and was an avid reader. He enjoyed driving for 71 years and was proud to do so right up until the day of his illness.

A couple of years before he passed away, he had consulted a doctor and was pleasantly surprised to learn that each of them spoke French, and to his delight, it was spoken at each of his appointments.

Calvin is survived by his daughters, three of whom were enrolled in his French class when they were in school: Kimberly A. (Huckins) O'Reilly of Marlborough, Heather L. Huckins of Bridgewater, and Heidi L. Huckins of Tacoma, Washington; his grandchildren; and his best friend, Rich Delanoy of Rumney.

Calvin was predeceased by his parents, his father in 1982 and his mother in 1992, his only sibling, a sister, who he was very close to, Ruth A. (Huckins) Corbeil of Bristol, in 2016; his adult daughter, Robin L. (Huckins) Wentworth of Franklin, in 2019; and his adoptive father, Milton W. Huckins of Holderness, in 2013.

To honor Calvin's wishes, there was no memorial service or visiting hours.