Richard Hayward Sanderson, 92, of Peterborough, passed away peacefully at Pheasant Wood Center on Monday, April 20, 2026. Dick was born in Newton, Massachusetts on March 30, 1934; the third and youngest son of Albert and Dorothy (Frye) Sanderson.

Dick grew up in Wayland, MA and after high school went on to study fine arts at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI. While there, he met his future wife, Jennifer (Meigs), who was also studying at RISD. The two spent many evenings together walking up and down the hills of Providence. They married soon after he graduated from college and he was drafted into the US Army. He reported for duty to Fort Knox, Kentucky where Jennifer later joined him, and they began a wonderful journey of 69 years together.

After his service, Dick and Jenny moved to Honesdale, PA. Dick was one of the first staff artists at Highlights, the children’s magazine. They moved to Arlington, MA and then to Wakefield, MA. Starting in 1964, Dick was a self-employed graphic artist working from his studio at home, primarily in map illustration for textbook publishing firms in the Boston area. After living in Malden, MA for a short time, he and Jenny bought a house in the town where he had spent many summers as a child, Peterborough, NH.

Dick had a wide range of interests and abilities. He was a gifted oil painter and the walls of the house on High Street are covered with his beautiful work. He also played both the piano and organ, playing for services at the Lutheran Church he and Jenny attended. He was an avid reader, especially of history, and there was always an open book on the dining room table that he was working his way through. Dick played baseball for his high school team and in college was an excellent table tennis player. He also loved a good game of HORSE with his sons at the backyard basketball hoop. He and Jenny followed all the Boston sports teams, and you could usually find them together on the couch rooting for the home team on game nights.

Most of all, Dick was a devoted Christian, a man of faith and an active member of all the churches that he and Jenny attended. He served in many church leadership roles through the years, even delivering sermons at times. He and Jenny have been lifelong supporters of Christian missions, something to which Dick was deeply committed.

In addition to his wife Jennifer, Dick is lovingly remembered by his five children and their families. John and his wife Paula of Wakefield, MA; Evan and his wife Ilse of Exeter, NH; Joel of Melrose, MA; Emily of Goliad, TX; and Elizabeth and her husband Chris of Jaffrey, NH. Additionally, he was cherished by fourteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

A service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 280 Old Dublin Road, Peterborough, NH 03458. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Richard’s name to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.