Wade Brooks Cushing Weathers, age 96 of New London, NH, died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday January 27, 2013 at New London Hospital’s Clough Center.
Born December 28, 1917 in Short Hills, NJ, to Edna Cushing Weathers and Niel A. Weathers, the third of seven children, Wade graduated from Deerfield Academy and Williams College with a BA in Mathematical Sciences. During his years at Williams, he developed a love for flying which led him to a career with Pan American Airways as a navigator and pilot, where he met his wife, Audrey Strasenburgh. Wade flew the famous Pan American Clippers, including the Boeing B314 “flying boats” between New York, neutral Portugal, and Brazil, during World War II, where his navigational skills were highly valued during those early days of trans-oceanic commercial flight. He also flew supplies to isolated Berlin, during the critical post-war Berlin Airlift. Following his career at Pan Am, Wade joined the Edo Corporation, a pioneering manufacturer of floatplane pontoons and aviation electronics, where he became a vice-president of sales.
Wade and his wife, Audrey Strasenburgh Weathers, were married on February 16, 1946. Having raised their five children, they moved to New London in 1975, and continued to spend summers on Lake Sunapee where he and his family had enjoyed decades of fond memories at the family home, Breidablik, since his early childhood. Walking, hiking, and golf were favorite pastimes, and Wade shared his life-long passion for the game as a volunteer golf coach of the Kearsarge Regional High School team, where he was affectionately known as “Granfather.” Above all else, spending time with his grandchildren gave him the most pleasure, and he never missed an opportunity to see his local grandchildren compete in athletic events, even hiking down a ski slope to a prominent vantage point to cheer them on.
Wade is survived by his four children, Wade B.C. Weathers, Jr. of Charlotte, VT; Niel F. (Arch) Weathers of Andover, NH; Margaret B. Weathers of New London; and Prentice F. Weathers of Newport, RI; six grandchildren, Brooks and Tyler Weathers, Niel Weathers, Jr. and Blair Weathers McClay, and Bliss and Elizabeth Weathers; two great-grandchildren; and his sister Edna W. Dennis of Annapolis, MD. He was predeceased by his wife, Audrey Strasenburgh Weathers and daughter Audrey Weathers Wallace, a sister Marion W. Grassi, and brothers Niel A. Weathers, Prentice C. Weathers, Brantley P. Weathers, and Eliot B. Weathers.
The family is sincerely grateful for the superb care and kind attention of the Clough Center staff.
Contributions in his memory may be made to: The Clough Center, New London Hospital, 273 County Road, New London, NH 03257; or The Breidablik Family Fund of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, PO Box 683, Sunapee, NH 03782
A memorial service was held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, New London on February 16, at 2 o’clock.