Remembering our Friend

The Community College System of New Hampshire mourns the loss of Dan McLeod, who gave so generously of his time and talent as vice chairman of our Board of Trustees. As a Board member, Dan played a significant role in helping the community college system increase educational opportunities for NH residents. He cared about students, their ability to afford college, and their success as learners and professionals. He set high expectations for the community college system and supported us in meeting our goals. We will miss him.

Daniel B. McLeod of Sunapee died Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at Concord Hospital.
He was 61.

He was born in Concord, the son of Ambassador R. Scott McLeod and Edna (van Pappelendam) McLeod. McLeod served as president of the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association from 1988 until this past December. The New Hampshire automobile dealers represent 25 percent of retail sales in the state. The NHADA Board of Directors designated Dan as a National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation ambassador at his retirement in December.

Mr. McLeod served as administrative assistant to the New Hampshire House majority leader from 1978 through 1980. Prior to that, he was an associate professor of social sciences at the New Hampshire Vocational Technical College in Berlin.

Mr. McLeod did his graduate studies in education administration at the University System of New Hampshire, the University of Maine and the University of Virginia. He attended the University of Denver and obtained his Bachelor of Arts in history from Nasson College in Maine. He was a 1965 graduate of the New Hampton School.

He was vice chairman on the Board of Trustees of the Community College System of New Hampshire.

Last June, McLeod was the recipient of the 2007 Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen award. There were 450 people in attendance, and each speaker spoke of Dan's life of integrity and honor.

He served on the Concord Board of Directors of Child and Family Services. He coached soccer for many years, at several levels, from youth soccer to the college level. He was one of the founding coaches of Concord's Youth Soccer program and was its first all-star team coach. McLeod was an accomplished athlete, with a great love for skiing and kayaking. He played the guitar, composed songs and had a deep appreciation of music. Dan was also a gifted fine-furniture maker.

Dan leaves his beloved wife of 38 years, Debbie; his son, Ben McLeod and his wife, Nikki, of Concord; his daughter, Molly McDonald and her husband, David, of Huntersville, N.C.; and four much-loved grandchildren, Abby, David, Liam and Campbell. He leaves a sister, Anne Ryan of Edmonton, Canada; his brother, Van McLeod and his wife, Joan Goshgarian; his brother-in-law, J. Barry Coughlin and his wife, Jo Ann, of Melvin Village; and his sister-in-law, Roberta Tenney and her husband, Rodney Tenney of Concord. He leaves nieces and nephews Chrissy, Bob and his wife, Katherine, Katie, Tavis and Chelsea, Camilla and Erin. He also leaves many close and devoted friends and colleagues in Concord and throughout New Hampshire.

The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the Community Colleges of New Hampshire Foundation to continue Dan's lifetime effort of supporting education in New Hampshire with the goal of educating individuals and strengthening New Hampshire's workforce. Friends are invited to leave messages of remembrance at mem.com.