Plaistow, NH: Gerald A. "Jake" Lovett, 93, a resident of the Town of Plaistow for the past fifty-four years, died Friday, March 17, 2023 at Hannah Duston Healthcare Center in Haverhill, MA.

Born in Haverhill, son of the late Harold and Alice Jeannette (Chase) Lovett, he attended local schools and was a member of the Haverhill High School Class of 1947. Raised in the Walnut Square section of Haverhill, Jake enjoyed spending his summers on Plum Island. An Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, he was a member of the 118th Regiment of the 11 ^th Airborne Division.

Mr. Lovett attended Merrimack College and was employed first at Bell Laboratories and later at Western Electric Co., AT &T Technologies, and Lucent Technologies, retiring as a Senior Engineer.

Moving to Plaistow in 1959, where he and his late wife Suzanne raised their children, Mr. Lovett was active in establishing and promoting local town youth sports teams. In 1969 he founded Timberlane Junior Football and Cheer, an organization serving hundreds of local youths that has since become one of the largest feeder programs serving local high schools. He has been a longtime member of the Board of Directors and served as President. As a coach for over twenty years, he implemented multi-level football programs to accommodate all ages, including flag football for younger children. He also established the first softball league in the area and coached all of his children and grandchildren and many other area children in football, softball, baseball, and basketball. He still coached baseball as recently as 2007 and basketball in 2013. Over the years he has touched the lives of thousands of athletes and coached generations of families across multiple sports.

Jake was presented with numerous awards and honors for years of devotion to athletes and volunteerism in coaching and included: in 2013, the Merrimack Valley Student Athlete Lifetime Commitment Award, and in 2016, the Plaistow Community YMCA Commitment to Community Award. At the same time he was honored by the New Hampshire Senate "In gratitude for his enduring service and leadership within the Plaistow community" and later by the Carl G. Davis Post 34 of the American Legion with a Citation of Appreciation "In recognition and sincere appreciation of outstanding service and assistance to the youth of the Plaistow community".

He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers, the 11 ^th Airborne Division Association, and the Walnut Square Association.

Predeceased in 1985 by his loving wife of twenty-eight years, Suzanne J. (Cote) Lovett, he will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his two daughters, Suzanne B. Lovett and her partner Daniel Kurylo of Freeport, ME, and Dianne A. Nye of Plaistow, three sons and daughters-in-law, Gerald A. Jr. and Jennifer Lovett of Plaistow, Jon D. and Diane Lovett of Plaistow, and Chris P. and Heather Lovett of Plaistow, ten grandchildren, Jonathan and his wife Laura, Amanda and her husband John, Christina, Michael, Hailey, Taylor, Cameron, Victoria and her husband Jake, Julia, and Emily, and two great-granddaughters, Natalie and Vivienne, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by a son Eric Lovett, a son-in-law David Nye, and a brother Gordon Lovett.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours to be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. Jake's Life Celebration and funeral service will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. in the funeral Home to be followed by burial with military honors in Highland Cemetery, Newton, NH. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Lovett has requested that memorial donations be made to the Eric C. Lovett Scholarship Fund, c/o Timberlane Regional High School, 36 Greenough Road, Plaistow, NH. To send a message of condolence to the family or to share a cherished memory, please visit: www.brooksidechapelfh.com