Couple’s donations, foundation, contribute thousands to in-state students in scholarships

After years of farming blueberries and working in cranberry bogs on their farm in New Jersey, Samuel and Alice Yarnold accumulated a substantial amount of money that has since been bequeathed to a scholarship fund for New Hampshire residents pursuing medical degrees. 

The couple retired from a lifetime of hard work to Rollinsford, where Alice had family connections. 

“They lived quietly and frugally in New Hampshire. I remember Sam would reuse my grandfather’s newspapers so he didn’t have to buy his own. It’s just one of the funny ways I remember that he saved money,” Trustee Stephen H. Roberts said. 

While enjoying a quiet life in New Hampshire, the couple began to foster a deep appreciation for the medical staff at Wentworth Douglass Hospital who helped the two during various medical difficulties during their elder years. Samuel became especially fond of cardiologist Dr. Danford, and the two formed a close relationship. 

After Samuel’s passing, Danford played an integral part in establishing the Yarnold Foundation. 

Since its origins, the scholarship fund has provided New Hampshire residents with scholarships for over 15 years and has donated between $30,000 and $40,000 of money to students in need. 

Roberts noted that each year, the foundation receives around 150 applications that they must sieve through them in order to find the strongest candidates from New Hampshire. The strongest candidates have high academic standing within their field of study and need financial support. 

“We really want to help the students that most need it, so financial standing plays a big role in our decision,” Roberts said. “We want to provide opportunity to students who really need it.” 

He said that, ideally, the candidates are established in New Hampshire so that following their completion of school they could serve the state. Although there is no way of projecting into the future, Roberts commented that in the past, recipients have been single mothers in the area who are tied to local communities. 

“Of course this is not a necessary component, but ideally we want the recipients to have that strong connection to the state,” Roberts said. 

Roberts commented that although the Yarnolds are not here to see the successful scholarship foundation, he knows that it would have made them happy to see their years of hard work continuing to help younger generations. 

“They never had any children of their own, so this is their way of impacting younger generations,” Roberts said. 

According to Roberts, Samuel Yarnold epitomized the American dream, working hard from a young age in order to support himself and help his poor immigrant parents. He continued working hard and spending wisely throughout his life, living quietly. Decades after the couples’ passing, their $800,000 financial contribution continues to help ambitious New Hampshire medical students pursue their profession. 

The foundation is continuing to accept applications, and students enrolled in LNA, ADN, BSN or MS programs in nursing, a BSW or MSW program in social work, or an MD or DO program in medicine are being urged to submit applications immediately.