SANBORNTON ---- It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of a great friend, adoring father, loving husband and good man. Daniel Mark Prichard passed away on October 15, 2024 after struggles with cancer, at the age of 69. His wife of 41 years, Marcia Haigh and daughter Emma Prichard were with him.
Dan was born in 1955 in Michigan. The family settled in Walpole, Massachusetts, where Dan was an active member of the school’s outward-bound Loon Project, along with true friend, Mark Hyland. Both changed the trajectory of Dan’s life.
Dan met Marcia while doing geology work in Missouri. After traveling around the country, they married in Walpole in 1983. The couple settled in Maine, where they raised their daughter Emma.
After 30 years of public service with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation, Dan retired in 2014 and moved to Sanbornton, NH.
Dan loved the outdoors, canoeing with family and friends all over the Northeast. In his later years he could be found driving the back roads of New Hampshire. He had a great circle of friends: Mark Hyland, Faye Luppi, Dave and Vicky Erker, and Kit Thanel and Deb Ferguson, with whom he shared many travels and adventures.
Dan was the best of dads, whose love and support for Emma was also shared with the children of his friends. His love showed as acts of service helping to build the project of the moment and continued up until his last day. His many nieces and nephews say he was their favorite, fun uncle. His love and support were felt well beyond his family and friends. He loved and was loved by his extended family in Onaway, Michigan.
He is predeceased by his mother, Janet Johnson, stepfather Harold Johnson, and nephews Wesley Haigh, and Jason, Charlie and Kevin Vannais. He is survived by his wife, Marcia Haigh of Sanbornton, NH and daughter Emma Prichard of Searsport, Maine. He is also survived by his father, Douglas Prichard, sisters Susan Prichard, Jan Doody, and Susan Johnson, brothers Blake Prichard, Tom Prichard, and Jeff Johnson, and their spouses; his in-laws Warren Haigh, Gary Haigh, Laurel Babcock, Leslie Crane and their spouses; as well as numerous beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and one great, great nephew.
Dan loved traversing the woods and waters of Maine and New Hampshire.
A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Dan’s life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Homestead Forest Stewardship Fund through the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, PO Box 766; Center Harbor, NH 03226.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.