The Rev. Arthur S. Vaeni passed away at home on October 24, 2025, due to complications from a blood clot, after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Surrounded by his wife, Sally Vaeni, he left behind a legacy of compassion that deeply impacted many lives in various communities.
A Life of Service and Spirituality
Born on April 8, 1950, in Concord, New Hampshire, Arthur was the son of Marjorie Spooner Vaeni and Starkey Vaeni. He grew up in a loving family and was the younger brother of Edwin Vaeni. After graduating from Bishop Brady High School, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the Army until his honorable discharge in 1977. Following his military service, Arthur earned a Master’s degree in communications from Indiana University.
In 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Gail Painchaud, with whom he had two children, Annemarie and Brian. His children were central to his life, providing him with joy and purpose.
Arthur’s spiritual journey began in his early thirties when he found his place in Unitarian Universalism. After graduating from Harvard Divinity School, he was ordained in 1987 as a minister by the Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Plymouth, NH, where he became the first full-time minister. Under his leadership, the congregation flourished, leading to the construction of a new Meetinghouse on Fairgrounds Road.
Commitment to Social Justice
In 1993, Arthur married Sally Gove, and their partnership lasted over 30 years, characterized by mutual support and love. In 2001, the couple moved to Olympia, Washington, where Arthur served as the minister of the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation (OUUC) for 13 years. During this time, he took a strong stance on social issues, particularly homelessness. In 2007, when a tent city emerged in Olympia, Arthur advocated for the OUUC to allow the encampment to use its parking lot, a decision that highlighted the congregation’s commitment to social justice.
This initiative led to the formation of Camp Quixote, which later transitioned into permanent housing made up of tiny homes and a community center. Arthur’s leadership in this effort became a significant milestone in his ministry.
After relocating to Bangor, Maine in 2014, Arthur served as a two-year interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor (UUSB). It was during this tenure that he received his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Recognizing his declining health, Arthur and Sally returned to New Hampshire in March 2016.
Despite his illness, Arthur maintained a positive outlook on life, practicing gratitude and kindness daily. He engaged in regular exercise, embraced healthy eating, and practiced loving-kindness meditation, which became integral to his spiritual life. He often expressed his appreciation for others through handwritten notes, a testament to his generous spirit.
Arthur took pride in having climbed Mt. Washington every year for 40 consecutive years. Even as Alzheimer’s progressed, he remained a calm, kind, and generous individual, embodying the principles he preached.
He is survived by his wife, Sally; his daughter, Annemarie, her husband Scott Case, and their children, Sam and Izzy; his son, Brian, his wife Liz Flannery, and their daughters, Emmy, Ellie, and Evie; his brother, Edwin, and his wife Nancy Nazaroff, along with their children, Kara Lynn and Jeremy. Arthur’s love for family, life, and his congregations will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.
A memorial service is scheduled for January 18, 2026, at 14:00 at the Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, located at 101 Fairgrounds Road, Plymouth, NH 03264. The service will also be live-streamed and recorded; details will be available on the Starr King Unitarian Universalist website.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pemi-Baker Hospice and Home Health, 101 Boulder Point Drive #3, Plymouth, NH 03264. For more information, or to send condolences to the family, visit www.csnh.com.
