Jerome Thomas Light, Jr

Jerome Thomas Light, Jr., of Center Tuftonboro, NH died peacefully on August 13, 2025, he was 92.  Born March 14, 1933, at Stanford hospital in Palo Alto, California, he and his identical twin were the youngest of four brothers. His parents, the late Jerome Thomas Light, Sr., and Dorothy (Burwell) Light raised him in Stockton, CA while his father simultaneously completed his EdD at Stanford University. 

He attended primary school, and high school in CA, played in jazz bands and worked summers as a forest ranger in Lake Tahoe before attending Idaho State University and graduating with a degree in Wildlife Biology. He enlisted in the Army and was stationed initially in Germany before transferring to Fort Bliss, TX. While performing avalanche training in Alta, Utah with the Army Corps of Engineers, he met his beloved late wife of 60 years, Ethelanne (Anne) Light of Egg Harbor, NJ.

The couple married in 1960 and began their life together in California where Jerry was a forest fire Smoke Jumper and fire crew leader, and tower guard in the Sierra Nevada’s. They then relocated to Montana to raise their family on a small ranch. Professionally, Jerome managed big game wildlife populations adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. He also taught classes at Montana State University and served as President of the Bozeman, MT chapter of the Audubon Society. In his spare time, he was a baseball and soccer coach, volunteered with his wife Anne in the Bozeman hospice program, and together they raised sheep on the family farm for wool. After retiring from a full career as Wildlife Biologist with the US Forest Service, Jerry and Anne moved to Massachusetts to manage a small family farm in Sherborne, MA before retiring in New Hampshire. Jerry, the epitome of an ‘outdoor enthusiast’, led majestic adventures and activities, sailing, XC skiing, hiking, fly-fishing, and enjoying summer family gatherings on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH.

In retirement, Jerry and Anne traveled widely - making life-long friends on amazing excursions in Europe, skiing in the Alps, and glacier heli-skiing in New Zealand. Their travels also included Mongolia, South Korea, Ecuador, Peru, Norway as mission, volunteers. Locally, they served as volunteers with New Start Newborns in Wolfeboro, NH. As a retired wildlife biologist Jerry and Anne worked as Conservation Rangers in Fallon, Nevada, and on Nantucket Island for eight summers. He taught preservation and respect for all things wild, at every opportunity.

Jerry and Anne also joined a hiking club and climbed all of the major peaks in the New England area, including summiting Mount Washington in their 70’s via the perilous Tuckerman’s Ravine route. Jerry also served on the conservation society for Tuftonboro, volunteered for many years at Lake Wentworth to control invasive plants, and he thoroughly enjoyed singing in the Clearlakes Choral in Wolfeboro, NH. As Anne became ill with Parkinson’s, Jerry seldom left her side during that 26-year journey and became a full-time caregiver for his beloved wife before Anne died.

Jerry was preceded in death by his three siblings: the late Thomas Light (sp: Jane Light) of Schenectady NY, Alvin Light (sp: Jill Strohn) of San Francisco, CA, Elliot Light of E. Lansing MI, and by his own wife of 60 years, Ethelanne (Anne) Light. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Rose Light, MA and by his three children: Karen Denison Light of RI, Heidi Light Deacon of NH, and Brett Light of UT. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Sarah DesRosier and husband Rob Hails in AZ, Meganne DesRosier in WA, William Deacon, Charles Deacon and wife Natalie Deacon, and Elisabeth Deacon of NH. Jerry also joyfully anticipated the birth of his first great grandchild in early 2026.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Service on September 20, 2025 at First Christian Church, 83 North Main Street, Wolfeboro, NH 03894. The service will be at 11AM (arrive by 10:45) followed by a light snack reception from 12-2 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance at https://winnipesaukee.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate, or to First Christian Church, Wolfeboro, NH Vanco Online: Missionary and Social Wellness Support

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