Haverhill, NH- Keith Darby, 71, died at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, on June 23, 2009. Keith was born in Little Aston, County Staffordshire, England, on December 30, 1937, the only child of Ernest and Susannah Poole Darby. His father was a prisoner of war and Keith spent his early years raised by his mother. After attending Brewood Grammar School as a boarding student, he served as a medic in the British Army. His interest in drama led him to apply for and win a scholarship to the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He worked as an actor, appearing in numerous repertory theater productions in England, before being recruited by the British Broadcasting Corporation. While at the BBC, he met Jane Engstrom, a young American woman who was working in London at the time. They married on June 3, 1967 in Chicago and then immediately returned to England, where they lived in a sixteenth century cottage in Denham Village outside London. They returned to Chicago in 1968 as Keith took a position with Public Television. Shortly after, they had their first child, a daughter Brooke, followed two years later by a son, Forbes. Although he always remained loyal to his British roots, he became a naturalized American citizen in 1981. After a three year stint as a Production Manager for the Satellite Technology Demonstration in Denver, CO, Keith returned to Public Television as a production manager for WGTE-TV in Toledo, OH. In 1979, the family moved to New Fairfield, CT, after Keith was offered a position with GTE (now Verizon) Corporate Headquarters in Stamford, CT, where he became Manager of Video Production and Development. In 1996, Keith retired, and having fallen in love with the beauty and spirit of the area, he and Jane moved to a two hundred year old home in Haverhill Corner. An avid gardener, he enjoyed transforming their gardens into a floral paradise and driving the country roads of New England to discover new and natural treasures and beautiful vistas. Keith quickly became involved in the greater Haverhill community. He served terms on the Haverhill Corner Planning Committee (including as its chairperson), the Haverhill Land-Use Subcommittee, the Lower Cohase Regional Chamber of Commerce (as Vice President), the Connecticut River Commission (Northern Subcommittee) and the Standing Committee of Haverhill Corner s Alumni Hall. At the time of his death, he was very involved with organizing the Haverhill Corner Autumn Festival. He became a Volunteer Coordinator for RSVP and the Volunteer Center working at the Horsemeadow Senior Center in North Haverhill. He enjoyed this tremendously as he was able to meet and help so many people in the community, all of whom he viewed as friends. Keith had many passions in addition to gardening and nature, particularly the arts. He will be long remembered as a writer, director and performer for several years of the North Country Chorus Madrigal Dinner. He enjoyed singing with the North Country Chorus and also loved music, drama, and poetry. But what he loved most were his family and his many friends. He is survived by his loving wife Jane Darby of Haverhill, his daughter Brooke and her husband Henry of Washington, DC, his son Forbes and his fiancee Eliza, also of Washington, DC, and extended family in England. There will be no calling hours. A funeral mass will be in St. Denis Catholic Church in Hanover, NH, on Saturday, June 27 at 11 AM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Haverhill Corner Library, Haverhill, NH 03765 or to the charity of one s choice. The family invites all to attend an infromal celebration of Keith's life at their home at 252 Dartmouth College Highway, Haverhill, immediately following the service.