Skip Cleaver

Thornton John Cleaver Jr. (September 26, 1944 – December 1, 2022), better known as Skip Cleaver, was an American politician in the state of New Hampshire.

Skip Cleaver
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Hillsborough 35th district
In office December 7, 2016 – June 1, 2022
Personal details
Born	(1944-09-26)September 26, 1944 Clearfield, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	December 1, 2022(2022-12-01) (aged 78) Keene, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residence(s)	Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S.
Alma mater	Rivier University
Military service
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1965–1971

Early life

Cleaver was born to Electa Mae Curry Cleaver and Thornton John Cleaver Sr.^[1] in Clearfield, Pennsylvania on September 26, 1944.^[2]

Education

Cleaver earned a B.S. in political science and history and an M.B.A. in international business from Rivier University.^[2][3]

Military career

Cleaver served from 1965 to 1971 in the United States Marine Corps.^[2]

Political career

On November 8, 2016, Cleaver was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives where he represented the Hillsborough 35 district. Cleaver assumed office in 2016. Cleaver was a Democrat.^[4] Cleaver endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.^[5]

Personal life and death

Since 1975 Cleaver resided in Nashua, New Hampshire. Cleaver was married, had three children, and four grandchildren.^[2]

Cleaver was a long distance runner and a charter member of the Gate City Striders Running Club in New Hampshire, serving several terms as club president. He was elected to the Gate City Striders Hall of Fame and completed 43 full marathons and 134 mountain races.^[1]

Cleaver died in Keene, New Hampshire, on December 1, 2022, at the age of 78.^[6]