Paul H. Goldsmith, 86, of Amherst NH, died Nov. 21, 2003, at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua. He was born in Lynn MA on Feb. 25, 1917, a son of the late Ernest M. and Mabel E. (Donovan) Goldsmith.

Mr. Goldsmith had been a resident of Amherst for the past 35 years and formerly resided in Westport CT and Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Marblehead High School in Marblehead MA, class of 1935. In 1937, he graduated from Lawrence Academy in Groton MA, where he was president of the Student Council and the Christian Association and captain of the baseball and hockey teams. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1942 with a BA in sociology. While at the University of Michigan, he was captain of the hockey team, All American, member of Michigamua Senior Honor Society and the Sphinx Junior Honor Society. He was a graduate of the Executive Program of Economics and Business Management, Alfred P. Sloan School of Economics, MIT, 1969. Mr. Goldsmith was employed in corporate relations in the high-tech and manufacturing industries for most of his working life.

He entered the U.S. Navy on July 30, 1942, and was honorably discharged April 9, 1946. He remained in the Reserves until 1969. He received the American Theatre Ribbon, World War II Victory Ribbon, and Philippine Liberation and Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon. Mr. Goldsmith retired as a lieutenant commander, naval aviation, U.S. Naval Reserve.

Mr. Goldsmith was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. National Institute of Education, a branch of the U.S. Department of Education, and served in the capacity of senior advisor to the president from 1983 to 1986 in Washington DC. He was chairman of the Governor's Advisory Council for Vocation-Technical Education in New Hampshire from 1969-1973 and was a member from 1969-1977. He was chairman of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire Education Committee, an advisory trustee of the National School Committee for Economic Education, a member of New Hampshire Council on Economic Education, Inc. Mr. Goldsmith also served as chairman of New Hampshire Freedom Through Strength and New England representative for the Strategic Defense Initiative under U.S. General Graham. In addition, he was a member of National Society of Children of the American Revolution.

Nicknamed "Snap" for his quick right-armed fastball, Mr. Goldsmith played for the Marblehead "Marbleheaders" prior to being recruited for the Boston Red Sox's "Hooligan Squad," a group of local young prospects. Among his memorable experiences in baseball were pitching against Satchel Paige and taking the mound at Holman Stadium during its inaugural year. Offered an opportunity to play professional hockey, he opted instead to work in a more traditional profession. He was a devoted promoter of youth sports, coaching many area youth hockey, baseball, and softball teams after he stepped away from his own competitive teams. In many instances, he established varsity high school squads.

He was a talented writer of fiction and nonfiction, as well as an artist. His pastels brought him recognition and awards. His interests in intellectual pursuits were as strong as his interests in sports, family, and friends. He read voraciously, studying political philosophy and economics. This avocation brought him great rewards and kept him busy in the political realm long into his life as a defender of individual liberty. Mr. Goldsmith began a collection of aphorisms and philosophical truisms in 1942.

Mr. Goldsmith was predeceased by his brother E. Gardner Goldsmith.

Family members include his wife Shirley P. (White) Goldsmith of Amherst; sons Peter Donovan Goldsmith and P. Gardner Goldsmith, both of Amherst; daughter, Carroll-Ann White Goldsmith of Somesville ME; stepdaughter Valerie Jeane Marclay of Vinalhaven ME; grandchildren Margo L. (Killoran) Southwick of Hamilton MA, Kord D. Stanley of New York NY, and Brianna P. Smith of Somesville; and three great-grandchildren.

(obituary from Smith & Heald Funeral Home, Milford NH)

Paul H. Goldsmith, 86, of Amherst NH, died Nov. 21, 2003, at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua. He was born in Lynn MA on Feb. 25, 1917, a son of the late Ernest M. and Mabel E. (Donovan) Goldsmith.

Mr. Goldsmith had been a resident of Amherst for the past 35 years and formerly resided in Westport CT and Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Marblehead High School in Marblehead MA, class of 1935. In 1937, he graduated from Lawrence Academy in Groton MA, where he was president of the Student Council and the Christian Association and captain of the baseball and hockey teams. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1942 with a BA in sociology. While at the University of Michigan, he was captain of the hockey team, All American, member of Michigamua Senior Honor Society and the Sphinx Junior Honor Society. He was a graduate of the Executive Program of Economics and Business Management, Alfred P. Sloan School of Economics, MIT, 1969. Mr. Goldsmith was employed in corporate relations in the high-tech and manufacturing industries for most of his working life.

He entered the U.S. Navy on July 30, 1942, and was honorably discharged April 9, 1946. He remained in the Reserves until 1969. He received the American Theatre Ribbon, World War II Victory Ribbon, and Philippine Liberation and Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon. Mr. Goldsmith retired as a lieutenant commander, naval aviation, U.S. Naval Reserve.

Mr. Goldsmith was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. National Institute of Education, a branch of the U.S. Department of Education, and served in the capacity of senior advisor to the president from 1983 to 1986 in Washington DC. He was chairman of the Governor's Advisory Council for Vocation-Technical Education in New Hampshire from 1969-1973 and was a member from 1969-1977. He was chairman of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire Education Committee, an advisory trustee of the National School Committee for Economic Education, a member of New Hampshire Council on Economic Education, Inc. Mr. Goldsmith also served as chairman of New Hampshire Freedom Through Strength and New England representative for the Strategic Defense Initiative under U.S. General Graham. In addition, he was a member of National Society of Children of the American Revolution.

Nicknamed "Snap" for his quick right-armed fastball, Mr. Goldsmith played for the Marblehead "Marbleheaders" prior to being recruited for the Boston Red Sox's "Hooligan Squad," a group of local young prospects. Among his memorable experiences in baseball were pitching against Satchel Paige and taking the mound at Holman Stadium during its inaugural year. Offered an opportunity to play professional hockey, he opted instead to work in a more traditional profession. He was a devoted promoter of youth sports, coaching many area youth hockey, baseball, and softball teams after he stepped away from his own competitive teams. In many instances, he established varsity high school squads.

He was a talented writer of fiction and nonfiction, as well as an artist. His pastels brought him recognition and awards. His interests in intellectual pursuits were as strong as his interests in sports, family, and friends. He read voraciously, studying political philosophy and economics. This avocation brought him great rewards and kept him busy in the political realm long into his life as a defender of individual liberty. Mr. Goldsmith began a collection of aphorisms and philosophical truisms in 1942.

Mr. Goldsmith was predeceased by his brother E. Gardner Goldsmith.

Family members include his wife Shirley P. (White) Goldsmith of Amherst; sons Peter Donovan Goldsmith and P. Gardner Goldsmith, both of Amherst; daughter, Carroll-Ann White Goldsmith of Somesville ME; stepdaughter Valerie Jeane Marclay of Vinalhaven ME; grandchildren Margo L. (Killoran) Southwick of Hamilton MA, Kord D. Stanley of New York NY, and Brianna P. Smith of Somesville; and three great-grandchildren.

(obituary from Smith & Heald Funeral Home, Milford NH)