Gathering to Honor Eric Pendleton’s Life
With the permission of John and Alice Pepper and their family, we share an update about arrangements in response to the death of Eric Pendleton. They are inviting community members to attend a celebration of Eric’s life next Sunday, July 30, 4pm at the tent at Eagle Mountain House.
The family writes, “Eric Pendleton died from a fall in his home on July 17, 2017. He leaves his parents, John and Alice Pepper, a brother, Brian Pendleton, of Seattle, WA., a sister, Sarah Isberg, of Jackson and six nephews and nieces. Eric grew up in Jackson, attended Holderness School, Burke Mountain Academy, and Univ. of Vermont. He worked on ski races at Atitash, later coached junior racers at Wildcat. He enjoyed running , biking, hiking, and golf, and in winter both alpine and nordic skiing. There will be a celebration of his life on July 30 at 4PM in the tent at Eagle Mountain House.” A more extensive account of Eric’s life will be shared at the beginning of the week.
Please continue to hold their family in your prayers.
Remembering Jan Tatkhin
Additionally, friends and members are welcome to attend a memorial service hosted at Jackson Community Church for our friend Dr. Jan Tatkhin (Jean Marie Vianney Niyonzima) on Monday, July 31, 4pm. He died of diabetic complications in early April of this year. Revs. Gail Pomeroy Doktor and Norma Brettell will officiate.
Sally Swenson composed this remembrance. “Dr. Jan Tatkhin died unexpectedly from complications with diabetes April 10, 2017. He was born in Rwanda in 1963. There he received his MD and practiced medicine for several years prior to emigrating to USA in 1993 where he earned a Masters Degree in public health and a PhD in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University. After graduation, he worked in Baltimore, MD.
When he later discovered the Mt. Washington Valley, he immediately fell in love with the area and soon made it his home. While in the valley, he participated in local running races and enjoyed the White Mountain Miler fun runs whenever he could. Learning to ski was a challenge (having never seen snow before he came) but as with so many other new activities – he tackled it with gusto and enjoyed the challenge. He was active in the arts, and a frequent attendee of concerts by the Mt. Top Community Orchestra and Mountain Aire Strings. He loved playing his guitar and singing folk songs with his friends. He enjoyed coaching, substitute teaching, and a variety of other jobs in which he gave back to the valley.
He frequently attended both the Jackson Community Church and the Bartlett Congregational Church, where he met many friends. At the time of his death he was living in an international boarding house in North Conway where he befriended foreign students, and helped them adjust to the new environment here.
He leaves behind several brothers and sisters, some of whom are still in Rwanda while others are in Canada, England, Belgium, and other countries.”