Ronald W. Pappas

Born in Manchester on February 5, 1946, he was the son of Nicholas and Jane (Maher) Pappas. He was lifelong resident of Manchester.

He graduated from Central High School in 1964 and was co-captain of the football team. He was also a member of the All State football team and played in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl in 1964. He went on to play football at the University of New Hampshire from 1964 to 1967.

In April of 1967, he was involved in a motor vehicle accident that left him a paraplegic.

Mr. Pappas taught civics at Memorial High School for 10 years. He then opened Pappy's Pizza at Hampton Beach and Manchester.

He was a long time speaker at area schools about the dangers of drinking and driving. He also counseled newly injured accident victims about leading an active life after their injuries.

The family includes his wife, Linda Seabury of Manchester; two sisters, Cynthia Shanley of Stratham and Kassha St. Jean of Manchester; a brother, Scott Pappas of Manchester; three step sons, Keegan McGuinness, Patrick Robinson and Michael Robinson all of Manchester; five step grandchildren and aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

IN HIS LIFE: He was a founding member of the Granite State Independent Living Foundation and was a former chair of the Governor's Commission on Disability. He served as a board member of the Easter Seals Special Transport Services for many years.

He donated pizza to the rehabilitation unit at Catholic Medical Center for many years. He supported many youth sports teams for many years and also sponsored Pappy's Pizza Annual Carnival and the Central High School Gridiron Club. In 2000, he was inducted into the Central High School Hall of Fame and later to the Queen City Athletic Hall of Fame.

He was the recipient of many awards including the 1998 Serenity Place Courage to Change Award, the 1997 National Easter Seals Johanna Cooke Plaut Community Leadership Award, the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Joe Yukica NH Chapter Award, the 1995 Outstanding Caregiver Award, the 1987 US Baseball Federation Corporate Executive of the Year, the 1987 Cystic Fibrosis Manchester Community Service Award, the New Hampshire Union Leader Carl Lundholm Award and the Queen City Rotary Club Paul Harris Foundation Recipient.

The funeral was Friday, July 6, 2007 at Brookside Congregational Church, 2013 Elm St., Manchester. The Rev. Carolyn Keilig officiated.

Donations may be made to Easter Seals of New Hampshire, 555 Auburn St., Manchester 03103, or to the Central Pride Foundation, c/o Central High School, 207 Lowell St., Manchester 03104, or to the Visiting Nurses Association, 33 So. Commercial St., Suite 401, Manchester 03101.