PETERBOROUGH — James Palmer Huston, 79, of Peterborough passed away quietly on Nov. 26, 2009, in Peterborough.

He was born Feb. 6, 1930, in rural Alberta, Canada, son of a school teacher, Edith Louise (Howard), and a Methodist minister, William James Huston.

He loved nature and came to love New Hampshire as his home after moving to the Granite State with his family in 1968.
If there is one word to describe him, it would be “unconventional.”

He passionately sought spiritual meaning, first through physics and mathematics, later through Buddhism and meditation, and always through a profound concern and empathy for his fellow man. He had a long, intermittent involvement with the Unitarian church and a firm commitment to the principles of social justice. There is no doubt that he brightened and warmed the lives of many by the genuine concern and interest he showed for them.

Survivors include his wife, Maria Anna (Farber); his six children and eight grandchildren: Lorne Huston and his wife, Carole, of Montreal, Quebec, Nancy Huston and her husband, Tzvetan Todorov, and their children Lea and Sacha of Paris, France, Pat Huston and her children, Claire and Alexander of Ottowa, Canada, Arthur Huston and his wife, Mara, and their children, Nick, Liam and Dylan, of Sudbury, Mass., Amyas Huston and his wife, Tamara, and their son, Jonathan, of Mason, and Daniel Huston and his wife, Danielle, and their son, Jacy, of Concord; his sister, Helen Huston; and his sister-in-law, Jane Huston and her sons, John and Peter.

The family wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation of Dr. Larmon and the staff at the Monadnock Community Hospital who did so much to help Jim and his wife, Maria, over the last three years.

A memorial service is today at 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Main Street, Peterborough. A reception will follow.

At the family’s request, those who wish to do so may make a donation in Jim’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 2 Commerce Drive, Suite 110, Bedford 03110.