House Democratic Leader Stephen Shurtleff awarded Caroline Gross Fellowship

CONCORD, NH (PRESS RELEASE) – New Hampshire House Democratic Leader Stephen Shurtleff of Penacook has been named the 2015 recipient of the Caroline L. Gross Fellowship. Established in memory of the late House Majority Leader to honor dedication to public service, the fellowship is awarded annually by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

Foundation President Richard Ober presented the fellowship award Thursday in a ceremony at the Statehouse. The fellowship enables an individual in public life to attend a three-week seminar for state and local officials at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

“Since 1995, 21 public officials have been selected to attend the intensive leadership program at the Kennedy School which many of them describe as the most important experience of their professional and personal lives,” said Foundation President Richard Ober. “These fellows represent the spectrum of political viewpoints, and all branches of government − federal, state and municipal.”

Shurtleff has served in the New Hampshire House since 2004 and served as the House Majority Leader from 2012 to 2014. He was chosen as House Minority Leader last November. Shurtleff has spent his entire career in the public sector serving as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, as a police officer for the City of Concord, and as a U.S. Marshal for the U.S. Department of Justice where he retired in 2000 after 26 years of service. Shurtleff is also a Councilor at Large for the City of Concord.

“I never had the pleasure of knowing Caroline Gross, but I did have the honor of following in her footsteps by serving as the Majority Leader in the New Hampshire House of Representatives,” Shurtleff said. “Now, over 20 years since her passing, members of the House still speak of her fondly. They speak of her character, her intelligence and her willingness to work with members across party lines. This fellowship will enhance my abilities, as a state representative and as a Concord City Councilor, to be able to find common ground and learning to be aware of when I can compromise my positions without compromising my principles.”

Shurtleff currently serves as a board member for the Penacook Historical Society, the Concord Heritage Commission, the Gov. John G. Winant Memorial Committee and the NH State Grange Foundation. He also serves on the NH Attorney General’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission.

“Steve’s work record demonstrates the devotion to public service that the Fellowship is dedicated to fostering,” said Martin Gross, who was Caroline’s husband. “Steve’s public leadership will continue and be enhanced by his experience in the program.”

Caroline L. Gross was a New Hampshire native who devoted her adult life to public service, serving in numerous capacities in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, the Governor’s office, and as a state representative from Concord. In 1989, she was appointed House Majority Leader, a position she held until her death in 1993. Her friends, family and colleagues established a fund at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to provide permanent funding for the Caroline L. Gross Fellowship.

The annual fellowship, now in its twentieth year, honors an extraordinary elected or appointed official in New Hampshire state or local government who demonstrates leadership ability and the highest standards of performance in public service.

Previous Caroline L. Gross recipients include: John Beardmore, Tina Nadeau, Christopher Clement, Marilee Nihan, Orville “Bud” Fitch, Mary Beth Walz, Gina Belmont, Philip Bryce, Catherine Provencher, Alan Robichaud, Tricia Lucas, Todd Selig, George Bald, Jason Hoch, Beverly Hollingworth, Lou D’Allesandro, Merelise O’Connor, Joan Callahan, Kathleen Sgambati, David Hess and Sylvio Dupuis.

About the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation was created in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire, and is dedicated to strengthening communities across the Granite State. The Foundation manages a growing collection of 1,700 philanthropic funds created by generous families, individuals and businesses, and awards more than $30 million in grants and scholarships every year. The Foundation invests charitable assets for today and tomorrow; works with generous and visionary citizens to maximize the power of their giving; supports critical work happening in New Hampshire communities and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nhcf.org or call 603-225-6641.