Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Harvey Menard
Ronald “Ronnie” Harvey Menard, 84, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua, New Hampshire.
He was born on Oct. 1, 1937, in Saugus, Massachusetts, to loving parents, Philip and Edith Menard. The second of 13 children, he grew up on a mink farm in Chester, New Hampshire. He is survived by siblings, Jeanne, Kenneth, Ralph, Ernest, Alfred and David, and is predeceased by siblings, Philip, Stephen, Judith, Nelson, Daniel and Theresa. He graduated from Raymond High School in 1956, where he was class president, student council president and played on the 1955 state champion baseball team.
During his junior year of high school, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps Active Reserves, 18th Rifle Co. Upon graduation, he volunteered to attend boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. He served for 11 years, took part in 11 two-week training camps, and was actively involved in training new recruits. He left the reserves with the rank of sergeant (E5). He is an honorary member of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Ronnie was married to Linda Alice (Wilson) on June 20, 1959, and they leave behind three sons and three grandchildren. Ronald II married Erin (Dolan). Roger married Karen (Doucette) and had a son, Thomas. Roger later married Joni (Spring). Russell married Theresa (Maguire) and had two children, Benjamin and Cora. Linda passed away on July 15, 2021, at age 80.
Most of his working life was spent in food vending services. He started his own company, Creative Vending Services, from which he retired after 19 years at age 73.
Ronnie loved music, particularly barbershop-style four-part harmony. He was an active member of the Barbershop Harmony Society (aka SPEBSQSA) for the last 60 years, first in the Derry, New Hampshire, chapter and, since 1962, as a member of the Nashua Granite Statesmen chorus. Shortly after joining the society, he became involved in quartet singing. His quartet, The Adventurers, became well-known after winning the 1966 Northeastern District Championship. They were active for more than 50 years, participating in hundreds of shows, conventions, competitions, TV shows and radio shows. They performed across the United States as well as in Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and on a Caribbean cruise ship. They even entertained the crew on board the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, while it was in drydock. Besides The Adventurers, Ronnie also sang with several other quartets, including Family Tradition, Guys Night Out, Northern Contingent, Old Men of the Mountains and Why Not Us. He also was active in the administration of the hobby, serving at various times as chapter president and vice-president, district president and international board member. He also served on the district-level board for 16 years. Ronnie always was grateful for the hundreds of friendships he made through his decades of barbershop singing.
SERVICES: Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2022, and a funeral service will be from 10-11 a.m. with Pastor Jeff Evans officiating. The funeral service will be immediately followed by a luncheon to celebrate Ronnie’s life. The visitation, funeral service and luncheon all will take place at Alpine Grove, 19 South Depot Road in Hollis, New Hampshire. Interment will follow the luncheon and will be at Edgewood Cemetery at 107 Amherst St. in Nashua. Family and friends are invited to attend any or all of these events.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a memorial contribution to the Barbershop Harmony Society (https://www.barbershop.org/), or one of Ronnie’s three favorite charities: The Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/), The Tunnel to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org/) or the Shriners Hospitals for Children (https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc/donate).
The DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua has been placed in charge of arrangements. An online guest book will soon be available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com.