By Richard W. Osborne
On November 4, 2017, William J. Veroneau, the first chairman of the Concord Historical Society, died at the age of 87 at Hospice House in Concord. We are pleased to honor the memory of Bill with this tribute.
Bill Veroneau was unquestionably one of Concord’s most important citizens during the last third of the 20th century with a legacy that continues into the 21st. Most notably, Bill was elected Concord’s Mayor by his fellow members of the City Council in 1991, and following approval of a new City Charter in 1992, was re-elected by popular vote to four more consecutive terms – 1993, ’95, ’97, and 1999. The hallmark of his ten years as Mayor was his successful determination not to raise the city portion of Concord’s property tax rate. His tenure as Mayor was the longest in the city’s history up to that time (a record eclipsed since by Mayor Jim Bouley).
Mayor Veroneau’s leadership of the City Council was marked by a firm but fair wielding of the gavel at countless meetings and public hearings. His can-do attitude resulted in finding a way to get the Grappone Conference Center financed and built, establishing the creative and innovative redevelopment plan for what was called Concord’s “opportunity corridor”, and implementation of the “20/20 Vision” process for the city’s future.
A successful businessman in Concord and Penacook as owner of a Nationwide Insurance agency, and a loving single father to seven children, Bill also threw himself into many other public-spirited endeavors. He was a member of the Bishop Brady High School Board for eight years, the last two (1975-77) as chairman. He was Moderator of the Merrimack Valley School District for ten years, served as a trustee of Concord Hospital, President of the Concord Chapter of the American Heart Association, and director of the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra.
In the first decade of the 21st century, following his retirement from the Mayor’s position, Bill was instrumental in the formation of the Concord Historical Society, and served several months as its first chairman. Under his leadership, the Society decided to embark on the writing and publication of an updated history of Concord, That eventually came to fruition in 2011 when the Society published Crosscurrents of Change: Concord, N.H.in the 20th Century.
At funeral services for Bill Veroneau, the following eulogy was delivered by Bill Norton, a long time friend and business associate and President of Norton Asset Management, Inc.:
William J. Veroneau
Where to start
* A family man first and foremost.
* A deeply religious and faithful man.
* A leader in the City, the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary.
* A wonderful friend.
* An example to most of us on how to balance work, family and community service.
* A mentor to many.
I met Bill Veroneau 32 years ago. I heard a great deal about him of course. He was Mr. Penacook in those days and quite a figure at Bishop Brady High School. I liked him from the start. He was a very likeable man. No pretensions. Down to Earth.
We worked on many Chamber and Civic endeavors together – most especially the re-vitalization of the Opportunity Corridor and then the 20/20 Vision for the City. He was not keen on the latter idea initially. But he was open to listening. We arranged for him to go to Philadelphia representing New Hampshire in a Mayor’s Symposium by the American Institute of Architects.
He was very proud of his City, Concord, NH and he prepared his presentation in minute detail -all his notes on index cards. He rehearsed it a dozen times to make sure he had the timing down to the last second. With Bill V., timeliness was next to Godliness!!
After working so hard to present his City, Concord, to the other 13 Mayors, he became a convert to the concept that a vision plan was the basis for a city’s future development – and re-development.
He threw himself into the fundraising for the Grappone Conference Center. He always got up early, did his workout, most often went to church and for 10 years he was the Mayor from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Then he was Bill Veroneau, the Nationwide agent, until 3 or 4 pm. when he became Mayor again. My interactions with him usually involved a breakfast at the Cornerview Restaurant. Although some were on the golf course!
More recently, for three long years he struggled to regain his strength and stamina after suffering a stroke. It was a long slog. But throughout these last trying years he did his best, keeping his spirits, and hoping for a breakthrough. It was not to be. So as with all things Bill Veroneau, he faced these last years with dignity and determination. For those of us who observed him, he set an example of how to be the best you can with what you have (or has been given to you).
Bill, Mr. Veroneau, Mayor Veroneau, Dad, we will miss you. Thank you for all you have done for us and all that you have given us.
