Ralph A. "Navy" Labnon

Mr. Ralph A. Navy Labnon, 87, of Birch Hill Drive, Gorham, NH, a resident of the St. Vincent de Paul Healthcare Center, passed away on Wednesday August 22, 2007 at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, NH. He was born in Berlin, NH on August 11, 1920 the son of Morris and Rose (Hebbep) Labnon and was a lifelong resident of the area. He graduated from Berlin High School with the Class of 1938 and was a US Army Veteran. Mr. Labnon was part owner of Labnons Men Shop with his father and later founded The Town & Country Motor Inn in 1956 which he owned and operated for more than 50 years. He was a member of the White Mountain Post VFW Post # 2520, the Ryan-Scammon Post # 36 American Legion, a 3rd Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart, FL., a former member of the Androscoggin Valley Country Club and a former NH State Candlepin Bowling champion. Mr. Labnon also managed the Berlin Maroons Hockey Team, managed the Berlin Red Sox Baseball Team, was responsible for staging major league baseball exhibition games in the North Country as well as exhibitions by the Boston Celtics and was honored by the Athletic Boosters Club as Mr. Sportsman of the Year. In 2006 he was inducted into the NH Legends of Hockey. He served as Chairman of the Advisory Commission of the Dept. of Resources and Economic Development under Gov. Peterson, was appointed to the Governors Economic Recovery Council under Gov. Thompson, was on the Board of Visitors at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, UNH from 1974-1980, the President of the NH Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Association in 1976 and was voted Innkeeper of the Year in 1984 by the NH Hospitality Association. He served as a Director of the Berlin-Gorham Chamber of Commerce, at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital, at the Northern Forest Heritage Park, at the Berlin City Bank from 1972-1991 and at the NH Housing and Finance Authority. He represented NH on the American Hotel Association National Board and was awarded the Lawson Odde Award in 1994. He had wintered in Stuart, Fl. for many years. Members of the family include his wife Lucille (Toussaint) Labnon of Gorham, NH; 2 sons Randall Labnon of Gorham, NH and Scott Labnon of Gorham, NH; 3 daughters Linda Rydin of Avon, CT, Holly Rene of Rochester, NH and Lori Morin of Gorham, NH; 11 grandchildren Brent Rydin, Jennifer, Carolyn, Elizabeth and Daniel Rene, Katherine and Christian Labnon, Hunter and Troy Morin, Brett and Julie Labnon; 3 brothers Philip Labnon, Richard Labnon and Robert Labnon; his twin sister Josephine Weston; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents Morris and Rose, 1 brother Raymond and 1 sister Emily. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday August 25, 2007 at 1:00 PM at Holy Family Church in Gorham, NH. Interment will be in the Holy Family Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call the Bryant Funeral Home, 1 Promenade St., Gorham, NH on Friday afternoon and evening from 2:30-4:30 and 7 to 9 PM and Saturday morning from 11AM to 12 PM prior to the church Mass. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Vincent dePaul Health Care Center Activity Fund, 29 Providence Ave. Berlin, NH 03570 or to the American Parkinson Disease Association 135 Parkinson Avenue. Staten Island, NY 10305.