Roger Norman Ducharme

NEWPORT — Roger Norman Ducharme, 74, of Karlene Street in Newport died Dec. 15, 2018 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Born June 11,1944 in Lebanon, he was a son of the late Wilfred “Pete” and Helen (Dudley) Ducharme. He was predeceased by a daughter Jody Pardoe and a brother and a sister who died in infancy.

Roger loved sports, he grew up at the base of Storrs Hill in Lebanon, where he learned to ski, ski-jump and skate. He was a lifelong Red Sox, Patriots, and Bruins fan with the player cards to prove it.

After graduating from Lebanon High School in 1962, he entered the local work force. In 1968, he married Donna Lee Pillsbury of Grantham. That same year he enlisted in the Army, spending a full tour in Vietnam, mostly in the Mekong Delta. Upon returning stateside he taught communications at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey for the remainder of his service.

Roger returned home to New Hampshire in 1971, working many jobs that put him in the public eye, first as a butcher for Dartmouth Co-op and Newport IGA, before purchasing the Newport Laundromat and Ice Cream Shop with his wife Donna. The two teamed up once again to run the Short Stop Market in Claremont for several years. Most folks will remember Roger as the public face of Jiffy Mart on Elm Street in Newport, where he excelled at early hours and number crunching with a friendly demeanor.

For the past couple years Roger and Donna wintered at Myrtle Beach with a group of close friends.

Roger had a mind like an elephant and the integrity of a monk. He cherished his family, friends, cats, and his service to his country.

Survivors include his loving wife Donna (Pillsbury) Ducharme; daughter, Lori (Ducharme) Richer, sister Janet Ducharme; son-in-laws Peter Pardoe and Nathan Richer; granddaughters Alicia Rawson and Marlia Richer; grandsons Gareth Richer and Jeremy Pardoe and his spouse Megan; great-granddaughter Jayden Foster; and loving nieces and nephews.

Military burial will be planned for the spring at the New Hampshire State Veteran’s Cemetery in Boscawen. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Disabled American Veterans Charity.