Project History

In October 2005 Tom Kline shared his dream of building a hospice house during the formal kick-off of our major gifts campaign.

In October 2002, The Exeter News-Letter reported on a local ceremony, aptly named Opening All Doors: A Celebration of Community Giving. The ceremony honored five local residents for their unique philanthropy within the community. Exeter resident Tom Kline received the Last Word Award for being a donor who has bequeathed money in a unique and significant way. His story was the beginning of the capital campaign to build a hospice house in our southeastern New Hampshire community.

Tom Kline's wife, Wendy Desmond, died of lung cancer on November 13, 2001 at the age of 47. Kline and Desmond's former employer, Tyco, made a substantial donation in her name to Seacoast Hospice. Kline and his daughter, Abby, had the goal of building a freestanding hospice house. At the time of the ceremony where Tom was recognized for his contribution, $250,000 had been raised in Wendy's name to build a hospice house that could provide the kind of end-of-life care that his wife never received. "Why am I giving?" Kline asked. "It's simple. This is the best memorial I can build for the best friend I ever had."

Mitchell and Edward Hyder shown with Executive Director, Susan Cole, and Board Member, Dr. Mark Henschke.

Fast forward to November 2005. Two brothers, Edward and Mitchell Hyder, generously donated $1 million to name the house — The Hyder Family Hospice House - in memory of their parents, Abraham & Elizabeth Hyder. The Hyder Family gift, along with the donations and pledges from many generous benefactors from our seacoast New Hampshire community have brought Tom Kline's dream of building a hospice house closer to reality. As of November 2005, Seacoast Hospice has received cash and pledges totaling more than $3.6 million of an original $5 million goal.

Aerial Photo of Site courtesy of Bambi Miller, Strafford County

Seacoast Hospice provides services to people in communities throughout southeastern New Hampshire and surrounding areas. To ensure a central location for the Hospice House with easy highway access, Seacoast Hospice conducted an extensive land search. In 2004, after an exhaustive search, Seacoast Hospice worked closely with the Strafford County Commissioners who offered to provide a five-acre building site on the Strafford County complex in Dover, NH.

In April 2005, Susan Cole, President and CEO of Seacoast Hospice, presents the first year lease payment to Strafford County Commissioner, George Maglaras.

We are very grateful to the Strafford County Delegation who shared our vision to bring a hospice house to our community. In May 2004 the Delegation unanimously approved a motion to enter into a 100-year lease agreement for just $1.00 per year.

Mark Hepp, Hospice House Project Manager, at the Groundbreaking Celebration May 12, 2006

Local elected officials, hospital administrators, and local residents joined Seacoast Hospice staff, volunteers, and special supporters at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hyder Family Hospice House. Construction commenced at the end of April.

March 2007 marked the grand opening of the Hyder Family Hospice House.