HAMPTON - Louis E. DuBois, 81, died at his home Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, after a brief illness.

He was born Sept. 15, 1922, in Haverhill, Mass., the son of the late Emile J. and Emilienne J. (Pothier) DuBois.

Mr. DuBois was a resident of Hampton since 1950.

He served with the Naval Seabees during World War II in the Aleutians and as a Naval photographer in Okinawa. He was employed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, retiring after 37 years. [He worked on the USS Albacore, experimental submarine, now on display at Albacore Park in Portsmouth, NH.]

He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church.

In 1987, the annual Louis DuBois Graduation Award was established at Scared Heart School in recognition of a student who exhibits true generosity of spirit. The Hampton Rotary Club awarded him the 1996 Citizen of the Year for service above self. He and his wife, Marilyn, were joint recipients of the Bill Elliot Man of the Year Award from the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce in 1986.

One of his greatest pleasures in life was taking pictures at community events and donating them to the sponsoring organizations, becoming known as Hampton's unofficial photographer.

He was the husband of the late Marilyn A. (Pope) DuBois.
Family members include three daughters, Irene Savory of Medford, Mass., Marilyn Henderson and Judith DuBois, both of Hampton; five grandchildren, Linda Lynch of Medford, Mass., Steven Savory of Worcester, Mass., Jennifer Henderson of Somerville, Mass., and Matthew and Daniel Henderson of Wyoming, R.I.; two great-grandsons, Christopher and Michael Lynch, both of Medford; and one sister, Jeanne Demarest of Lynn, Mass.
Mr. DuBois was predeceased by a daughter, Alta; two brothers, Roland and Leo; and two sisters, Blanche and Loretta.

DuBOIS - Louis E. DuBois, 81, died at his Hampton home Saturday, Dec. 6. 2003, after a brief illness. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 289 Lafayette Road, Hampton. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited, and may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton. The family requests that flowers please be omitted. If desired, donations may be made to the Scared Heart School, 289 Lafayette Road, Hampton, NH 03842; or the Hampton Police Department Mounted Patrol, 66 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, NH 03842. Burial will be in the High Street Cemetery, Hampton.

HAMPTON - An American flag and a simple white silk heart with a red rose, and the word "Pompa" on it, both items framing a Mounted Patrol patch, adorned the casket of Louis DuBois at Remick & GendronFuneral Home this week.

DuBois, 81, died last weekend, after a brief illness. The mementos by his body signified the man's dedication to his country, his family and the community he adopted as home 53 years ago.

"He was just a real nice man. I never heard him say a bad word about anybody," said Tom Gillick, who got to know DuBois in the early 1990s.

"He was a wonderful man, a gentleman," Board of Selectmen Chairman Brian Warburton announced at Monday's selectmen's meeting, noting DuBois' passing. "And he has a wonderful family," Warburton added, referring to two daughters, Judith and Marilyn (Henderson), both of whom are active in the community.

DuBois, a resident of Hampton since 1950, died on Dec. 6 at his home. He served with the Navy Seabees in World War II, and as a photographer in Okinawa. He was employed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard after the war. His community generosity prompted the Hampton Rotary Club to name him Citizen of the Year in 1996. Ten years prior, in 1986, the Chamber of Commerce named DuBois and his wife, Marilyn, joint recipients of the Bill Elliott Man of the Year Award.

A steady stream of visitors made their condolences at the funeral home Tuesday afternoon and evening. The number of town officials from both of private and public community gave testament to DuBois' involvement in Hampton.

"Louis was a ferocious supporter of the Police Department Mounted Patrol, and one of its earliest supporters," said Glen French, former president of the chamber, noting how DuBois documented the early days of the patrol with his camera.

In fact, DuBois became known around town as "Hampton's unofficial photographer" to many who knew him. "He was always taking photos of whatever was going on," Warburton said.

French said DuBois was never without his camera. "Every event we ever held Louis was there with the camera. He'd give us the prints and never asked for a dime for the pictures."

French also recalled back in the '80s when the chamber was low on Christmas decorations. "Judy (DuBois) had built four wooden toy soldiers for us for Marelli Square," French said.

"We went to Judy to make a few more, Judy said she'd talk to her father. 'How many do you need?' I said 70 ... and Louis set about making them without any question."

"The man never wanted any recognition. He was almost embarrassed by it," added French.

Judy DuBois recalled her father's volunteer work at Sacred Heart School, taking photographs of school events, as well as his work around the town. But her memories were more personal. "He built us our home in Hampton in 1961. He pounded every single nail," Judy said.

She recalled the story of her father and mother meeting at Haverhill High School in Haverhill, Mass., where he was born.

"He was walking across campus one day and my mother picked him out of the crowd. 'That's the man I'm going to marry, she said,' "Judy recalled her mother telling her.

"My mother and father were incredible parents. They were there for all us kids every single moment of our lives," Judy said.

Besides Judy and Marilyn, DuBois leaves behind a third daughter, Irene (Savory) of Medford, Mass.; one sister, Jeanne (Demarest); as well as five grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

DuBois' life was celebrated at a Mass at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church Wednesday morning.

And his spirit lives on in the community he chose as home. On the roof above The Old Salt on Lafayette Road, a Christmas decoration annually welcomes residents downtown; four 5-foot tall reindeer hauling a sleigh.

"Those big reindeer on the roof, they're up there every year. ... Louis made them," said French.