In Memory of Rev. Arthur “Art” S. Vaeni (1950-2025)
We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Arthur “Art” S. Vaeni, who died on October 24, 2025, at the age of 75.
Art was born on April 4, 1950, in Concord, NH, to Starkey A. Vaeni and Marjorie S. Vaeni. He was raised in the Concord area and attended a Baptist church with his parents. Art enjoyed his early school years. In junior high, he played football while actively participating in student government and the school newspaper. He later attended a parochial high school, serving as a class officer and continuing to play football. Throughout his childhood, Art spent considerable time on his grandparents’ farm in northern New Hampshire. He loved being with his grandfather, caring for animals, and working in the fields. These years nurtured his deep appreciation for nature and awakened him to the beauty and majesty of the Earth. As he grew older, Art struggled with formal religion and life’s larger questions.
In 1972, Art graduated with a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and went on to serve five years in the Army. After completing his military service in 1977, Art pursued graduate studies at Indiana University, earning a Master’s degree in Telecommunications in 1980. He then worked for a telephone company in New England. During this time, he felt a growing need for community. After visiting several churches, he discovered the Unitarian Church in Concord, NH, and immediately knew that he had found his spiritual home. Art became an active layperson in the church. From 1984 to 1986, he served the Concord church as Director of Religious Education. In this role, he also took on ministerial responsibilities, leading worship, integrating multiple facets of congregational life, and helping foster a holistic community life. As his understanding of Unitarian Universalism evolved, Art realized this institutional religion offered both a community and a context in which he could begin to shape his own understanding of what it meant to live religiously/spiritually. Eventually, he recognized that full immersion in ministry was his calling. In 1987, he received his Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, MA.
The Rev. Vaeni was ordained on November 22, 1987, by Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Plymouth, NH, where he served his ministry from 1987 to 2001. He was deeply involved in the life of the fellowship, leading Sunday Services, facilitating study groups, participating in committee meetings, holding memorial services, conducting weddings, performing dedications, providing counseling, and engaging in both social and social action events. In 2001, he accepted a call from the Olympia UU congregation (OUUC), where he would serve until 2014. One of the highlights of his ministry occurred in 2007, when a tent city sprang up on an empty lot in Olympia. The city made plans to remove it. The board at OUUC, under Arthur’s leadership, voted to welcome the tent city to camp in its parking lot. It was a high point in the Rev. Vaeni’s ministry. He was so proud of the congregation’s generosity and its commitment to living with its social justice values. Other churches joined in, each hosting the encampment for three months at a time. The community came to be called Camp Quixote. Later, it became permanent housing, made up of many tiny homes, supplemented by a shared community center. In 2014, OUUC honored him as their minister emeritus. From 2014 to 2016, the Rev. Vaeni provided his services as an interim minister to the UU Society of Bangor, ME (2014-2016).
He loved the congregations he served and encouraged a strong sense of community and cared for both groups and individuals with compassion – and when appropriate, humor.
The Rev. Vaeni also served the denomination in numerous leadership roles. He was a board member of the NH/VT District of UU Societies (1992−1995) and chaired the NH/VT District Religious Education Department during the same period. He served as Vice President of the district board in 1998 and contributed to the District RE Consultant Advisory Committee. He was President of the Emerson-Ballou Chapter of UUMA (1995-1996) and chapter leader for the Pacific Northwest UUMA Chapter from 2005 to 2008, where he also provided Good Offices support. In addition, he served on the UUMA Ethics and Collegiality Committee from 2007 to 2009.
Equally committed to community service, Art served on the Plymouth Area Youth at Risk Committee and the Plymouth Community Development Task Force; sat on the board of the United Campus Minister at Plymouth State College; and chaired the Parent-Child Program Council of the Whole Village Family Resource Center.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed meditation, bicycling, rowing, weightlifting, hiking, canoeing, and wood carving.
Art is survived by his spouse, Sally Gove; his children, Annemarie (Scott) and Brian (Liz); grandchildren, Sam, Izzy, Emmy, Ellie, and Evie; and his brother, Edwin (Nancy).
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Starr King UU Fellowship, 101 Fairgrounds Rd., Plymouth, NH 03264. (The service will be live-streamed and recorded. Please check Starr King UU website for the link).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pemi-Baker Hospice and Home Health, 101 Boulder Point Dr #3, Plymouth, NH 03264.
Notes of condolence may be sent to Sally Gove, 29 Pemi Dr., Plymouth, NH 03264.