Obit: Emery Pierre Booska ... former UNH dean

MILTON - Emery Pierre Booska, 80, of Milton, passed away on, January 12, 2014. He was born in Bristol, Vt., on October 19, 1933, the son of Carl P. and Gertrude A. [Gebo] Booska. Emery grew up in Orwell, Vt. and graduated from Brandon High School, class of 1951. He went on to earn a B.S. in Agricultural Science from the University of Vermont in 1956. Emery continued his education at the University of New Hampshire attaining a M.S. in Agricultural Education in 1967.

From 1956 to 1967, Emery worked as the Vocational Agricultural Instructor, School Farm Manager, and Vocational Programs Supervisor at Alvirne High School in Hudson. In 1967, he moved his family to Durham, and began his career at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). While at UNH, Emery served and chaired numerous committees. He retired in 2011 as the Assistant Dean of Administration for the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture. His professional honors include: Distinguished Pink Triangle Award, UNH Presidential Award of Excellence, Professional Administrative and Technical Staff (PAT) Outstanding Service Award, and many others.

Emery was a lifelong advocate for education and all forms of agriculture. From 1957-1967, he was the adviser for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) at Alvirne, the beginning of his enduring involvement with this organization. He continued to judge competitions and fund raise for them and was presented with a national FFA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

Throughout the 1970s he facilitated the formation and expansion of the Oyster River Youth Association (ORYA) in Durham. For many years, Emery was a Little League Baseball coach and umpire, Basketball Program Coordinator, and later helped create the ORYA Soccer Program. Emery was an avid fisherman, gardener, and carpenter.

Commitment to community was important to Emery. Upon arriving in Milton, he became involved with many town projects. Emery was the chairman of the Milton Town House Stewardship Committee, where he volunteered his skills for its successful restoration project. He also served for several years as a member of the Milton Conservation Commission.

Emery's greatest love was time spent with his family. He is survived by his wife of twenty-six years, Suzanne [Robidas] Booska of Milton, sister Janice [Booska] Bushee of Vergenes, Vt., son Mark Emery Booska of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., daughter MaryAnn [Booska] Albonesi and husband David of Ithaca, N.Y., and son Paul Michael Booska and wife Heather of Tamworth, as well as grandchildren, Ben and Justin Booska, Stephen, Sarah, John and Lydia Albonesi, and many nieces and nephews. Emery was predeceased by his parents, brothers Martin and Edward, and first wife Margaret [Hartnett] Booska.