Newport, NH: Vern passed away on Friday, August 5, 2022 at his home at Summercrest.

Vern was born March 25, 1936, in Van Buren, Maine.  The 4th child of 9 children born to the late Robert C. Violette and Virginia (Labbe) Violette.  Vern weighed 13 lbs. 6 oz at birth, a record which still holds today!

While attending high school, Vern started his grocery career working for the Pic-N-Pay Supermarket. After graduating from Portsmouth High School in 1955, and in 1956 married his childhood sweetheart Bobbi, he served in the U.S. Navy stationed in Annapolis, MD. While at Annapolis, he was on the U.S. Navy marching drill team, appearing on national TV. His next duty was aboard a U.S. Destroyer William R. Rush DDR as a yeoman third class and was honorably discharged in 1957.

The Violette family moved from Van Buren, ME to Franklin, NH in 1948. His father, Robert C. Violette accepted the job as City Manager. Coming from northern Maine, on the Canadian border, none of the children could speak more than twenty words of English. In 1950, the Franklin voters voted out the City Manager’s form of government. At the same time, Newport, NH had lost their manager, so representatives came to offer his father the Newport Town manager’s position. His father asked what the pay was, and they said “$5,500 a year.”  He told them he had eight children, and their reply was “you don’t have a job”, so off to Newport they went.  There in the eighth grade, Vern met his wife to be, Roberta (Bobbi) Woodhull.  After 3 years as manager in Newport, his father applied for the City Manager’s job in Portsmouth and was selected from 150 applicants. He was in office at the time of his death and held the City Manager’s position for 18 years.

In 1958, after being discharged from the U.S. Navy, Vern returned to Newport to work for his father-in-law Remington Woodhull.  Vern bought Woodhull’s Market and he and his family ran the store for 11 years. The citizens of Newport were asking Vern to move into a bigger market for more services. He opened Violette’s Red & White, on south Main Street and remained for 1 year where he moved to a bigger location known as “Violette’s Supermarket” which he ran for 8 successful years, this just proved that Newport citizens knew what they wanted and supported his move.  It was a true family affair, and a milestone for the citizens of Newport. Vern and Bobbi sold the store in 1990 and upon retirement Vern became General manager at the Newport Golf Club for 3 years and they hosted the NH State AMS. Vern then accepted the position as Sales Merchandising with Kraft Foods as a part timer and worked there for 15 years.  After selling his store, they had homes in Kennebunk, Maine and Naples, FL and his family having the most memorable times.

Vern had many interests including all sports, especially golf, tennis, and skiing. He and his wife Bobbi enjoyed traveling.

Vern and his brother Ron (his best friend), who owned a grocery store in Milford, NH, started a golf tournament called the “Ultra-Violette Golf Scholarship Classic” the tournament is still going strong today. The Ultra-Violette awards fifty-five $1,000 scholarships to NH high school students to further their education.  After 35 years he retired as Chairman and turned it over to the NH Grocers. This tournament has raised over $1,000,000 for NH student scholarships.

Vern was continually active in the community and the food industry.  In 1987 Vern was named the Grocer of the Year (the biggest honor a grocer can receive). He chaired and served on many grocers’ committees and activities.  He and his brother Ron worked on the returnable bottle bill; it would have been costly to the Grocers industry. He was very instrumental to passing the law to bring wine into grocery stores, a big boost to NH & Grocers.

Vern was a trustee and past chairman of Sugar River Bank.  He was past president of the Newport Chamber, Newport Lions and Newport Republicans. As chairperson of the republicans, he organized a torchlight parade in Newport with a live elephant, with many politicians participating with speeches on flatbed trucks on the Newport common; one of the biggest parades held in Newport.  He served 9 years on the Newport Hospital board and was one of the founders of the Newport Tennis Club. He served as president on the Hospital Hill Realty and also served as President of Summercrest/Seasons Assisted Living.  Vern’s greatest achievement was being one of the founders of Summercrest Assisted Living, one of the most successful assisted living facilities in New England.

In 2020, Vern received the Newport Citizen of the year award and he felt this was one of the greatest honors bestowed upon him.

Vern will most be remembered for the love of family, sharing 62 years of love and devotion to his wife Bobbi, and raising three children in their Balsam Road home.  They entertained friends and relatives and he was an outstanding friend, father and Grandfather with the kids calling him Pops. He was a true gentleman & friend to all.

Members of his surviving family are his daughter and son in law, Jill Violette Kathan and Dennis, son and daughter-in-law Dana Violette and Dodi and daughter and significant other, Gina Violette and Scott.  Granddaughter Kristie Kathan Howe and husband Buddy, Grandson Andrew Kathan and wife Stephanie, Grandson Corey Violette and significant other Katie, Grandson Curtis Blodgett, and Granddaughter Olivia Blodgett.  Vern has 5 great grandchildren, Ava Mae Violette, Caleb Remington Howe, William Oliver Kathan, Sawyer Joshua Howe and Samuel Henry Kathan.  Sister Verna Fales of Portsmouth, brother Ron Violette and wife Betty of Amherst, brother Paul Violette of Fort Myers, FL and sister Susan Chernenko and husband Gary of Charleston, WV. Sister-in-law Elizabeth Maiola, Newport, and his very special companion Elaine Glazier of Charlestown, NH.

Vern was predeceased by his wife Bobbi in 2017, his parents Robert and Virginia Violette and in-laws Remington and Gladys Woodhull, his sister Patricia Cappelletti of Canton, MA, his sister Vivian Tate of Charleston, WV and brothers Robert Joseph Violette and Howard Phillipe Violette.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Seasons at Summercrest in memory of Bobbi Violette 169 Summer Street, Newport, NH  03773, VNA or the Newport Football Association.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Summercrest for helping to make Summercrest his home and for giving such excellent care. Every single person went above and beyond and we will forever be grateful for your love and devotion to our wonderful patriarch. The family would like to thank hospice for their never-ending support during this most difficult time and to Big John and the entire clergy who came to give support.

At Vern’s request a celebration of life will be held on Friday, August 19, 2022 at 3:00 PM at South Congregational Church in Newport.