Dan A. Powers

Dan Albert Powers, 82 of North Conway passed away at his home on Sunday, November 17 due to complications from a recent illness. Born in Lisbon Falls, Maine on June 23, 1942, Dan was the son of the late James L. Powers and Katherine (Keep) Powers. Dan was raised in Bridgton, Maine and graduated from Bridgton High School. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1961, earned the rank of Sergeant as well as the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1967. Following his discharge, he returned to Bridgton where he went to work for the local IGA grocery store. He later moved to North Conway, where he worked for many prominent local businesses, including IGA, Lyman’s Shell, Diamond Lumber, The Wooden Soldier and the Mennella Family. He was also the popular proprietor of The Common Place in North Conway, where he was known as Dan the Ice Cream Man. In retirement, he worked as a Crossing Guard for the Conway School District and in property management for the Fernandez Family. In 1995, he married his long awaited sweetheart, YaYa Ward in a ceremony at their home in Kearsarge. Dan embraced YaYa’s three teenagers as if they had been his from the very beginning. They went on to enjoy nearly thirty years of marriage, fully taking on their roles as grandparents, relocating from one house to the next on Kearsarge Road and spending many summers near Biddeford Pool in Maine, where they had a large group of friends at the Shamrock Campground. Dan was an iconic figure in North Conway, enjoying many friendships at work, in his neighborhood, at the Post Office, over morning coffee at Sid’s, helping friends and family with their many projects, shuttling grandchildren, or while attending the school events of his grandchildren. It was as a grandparent that he truly grew into the name that Aubrey & Kirstin Mennella gifted him so many years earlier, Aukie. Aukie proudly volunteered his time to many local causes, including John Fuller Elementary School, the Polar Express, Valley Pride Day, as a Board Member, Clerk and Treasurer for the Kearsarge Cemetery and as a Ballot Clerk of the Town of Conway on many election days. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Jeanne Hunt and his brothers John and Dean Powers. In addition to YaYa, Dan is survived by their three children Kelley Murphy and her husband Patrick, Robin Spittler and her husband Terrence, Sandy Forbes and his wife Heather. His love of life, quick wit and robust laugh will live on in his grandchildren Joe Murphy and his wife Andrea Yavarow, Kevin Murphy and his fiancee Arielle Seavey, Mackenzie Murphy, Reilly Murphy, Grace Murphy, Robbie Murphy, Hadley Spittler, Rocky Spittler, Charlie Murphy, Paxtin Forbes, and Paisley Spittler. A graveside service at Kearsarge Cemetery and a celebration of life will be held at a future date. In Dan’s memory, please consider a donation to Eastern Slope Ski Club, PO BOX 348, North Conway, NH 03860.