By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
NEWPORT, N.H. — The Newport Annual Report was dedicated to the late Larry W. Flint this year, with Selectboard Chair Jim Burroughs noting that anyone from Newport knows how dedicated he was to the town and the creation of the brand new LaValley Family Community Center.
“Anybody who knows anything about Newport and been around here for more than a day knows that Larry was instrumental in the whole community center before it was a project, back when he was the recreation director,” Burroughs said at the beginning of the May 5 Newport Selectboard meeting. “He tirelessly carried on that project as chairman of that committee for many, many years. I know it brought him great joy when he got a chance to see the scoreboard with his motto on it.”
For those who don’t know, Flint’s motto was “If you rest, you rust,” which the board members reiterated with smiles on their faces. They recalled the legacy of Flint that now lives on at the LaValley Family Community Center and in the annual report.
“I know he was very happy to see that building completed,” Burroughs said.
Flint, who was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, was known throughout the community for his devotion to his town, and the kindness he exhibited to those who lived in it. He lived for more than 34 years after receiving a liver transplant due to a rare liver disease, and all the while was an active hiker, competed in the National Senior Games, and was a proponent of sports and physical activity.
Flint had a 35-year career in recreation, and in 2019 also won the Newport Recreation Volunteer of the Year award. He was the Newport Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1988 and 2018. At the dedication of the LaValley Family Community Center members of his family, as well as friends and supporters, wore commemorative T-shirts in his honor.
Normally the dedication of the annual Newport Annual Report is one of the town’s best kept secrets, but this year was a little bit different given the declining health of Flint. He was notified about the dedication and passed away peacefully just two days later on March 20 at the age of 78.
“He was informed that the town report was being dedicated to him before he passed away, and talking to the family afterwards, they spoke about the peace that it brought him knowing that, and the joy that it brought him,” Burroughs said.
The dedication to Flint can be found on page one of the town report, which has a cover photo of the completed LaValley Family Community Center taken by Jodi Merrow. Copies of the report can be found around town at locations such as the town offices, the police station, the Richards Free Library, and the LaValley Family Community Center.
