Ralph E. Dixon Jr.

Ralph E. Dixon, Jr., 80, passed away while surrounded by his loved ones on September 15, 2024, at Lakes Region General Hospital. 

 Ralph was born in Boston to Ralph Sr. and Mary (Scanlon) Dixon in December 1943. After attending Boston English High School and then American International College, Ralph moved to Bridgewater, NH, where he taught history and started a ski racing program at Newfound Regional High School. He received a master’s degree from Plymouth State University. He later became a teacher and principal at Canterbury Elementary School, before going to Shaker Regional High School, where he was the Guidance Director for decades and started a second ski racing program. In 2014 he was honored with the NH School Administrators Association “Champion for Children” Award. He finished his career at Lakes Region Community College, helping prospective students with their career decisions. Ralph took great pride in his community engagement and in helping thousands of young people find their career paths and ways to afford post-secondary schooling. Ralph’s commitment to the community was taken up by his three children. 

 Ralph worked hard and played hard. He coached high school soccer, youth baseball, alpine ski racing, and coached for the Gunstock Ski Club for many years. Downhill skiing was a great passion in his life for 69 consecutive years. He was also an avid golfer, providing frequent entertainment on the course to his close friends. Teaching and sharing his love of the outdoors and lifelong activities was a great passion of Ralph’s.

 Family was the most important thing to Ralph. His parents gave him a loving and adventure-filled childhood in the Boston area, including frequent trips to New Hampshire. While swimming on Newfound Lake, he met his loving wife of 50 years, Dawn Stickney. Ralph and Dawn had three children, Ben, Sam, and Abby, and he later became a beloved father-in-law to Emily, Amy, and Dan. Devoted to his extended family, he loved a good party and many laughs. He enjoyed hiking, biking the rail trails, camping, history, spending time at the beach, and goofing around with his six grandchildren: Griffin, Walker, Brianna, Lauren, Maggie, and Ruby. 

 Ralph has been cherished by his large family, countless friends, and the thousands of people whose lives have been better because of him.

 A public service will be held at Canterbury Shaker Village Hubbard Center on Sunday, October 6, from 2-4pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to NH Environmental Educators (NHEE.org) or the Share Winter Foundation (sharewinterfoundation.org).