John A. "Duke" Kerr

John Alexander "Duke" Kerr of Manchester, NH, passed away on April 22, 2026, with his wife by his side.

Born in Syracuse, NY, he was the son of the late John Alexander and Kathryn (Ryan) Kerr. John graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse in 1960, and later from the University at Buffalo, where he distinguished himself as an impressive walk-on member of the UB men's basketball team.

John began his decades-long career in business and technology after being recruited by IBM. He would later help found Control Video Corporation in McLean, VA. CVC, the predecessor to AOL, developed GameLine, a dial-up service for Atari systems that allowed users to download video games over telephone lines. In 1986, John founded CompuTel Inc., a telecommunications company in Manchester, NH, where he oversaw operations, technology, sales, and investments until his retirement in 2022.

John had a passion for riding his Harley-Davidson, taking many road trips out West, eventually finding his way to the top of John Kerr Peak in the Tularosa Mountains of New Mexico. Back in New Hampshire, John would often be found enjoying time with family and friends or socializing at his favorite local spots. He was a gifted storyteller, avid Jeopardy! fan, lacrosse enthusiast, and dedicated parishioner of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Parish. John will be remembered in his hometown of Syracuse for his hands-on approach to resolving conflicts, and in later years, for his generosity and unmistakably big heart.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Bonnie (Young) Kerr of Manchester; his daughters, Jennifer Kerr (David Leland) of Arlington, VA, and Sarah Kerr (Steven Petalas) of Manchester; his son, Ryan Kerr (Jonatha) of Bedford, NH; his grandchildren, Grace Bernatchez, Quinlan and Tristan Kerr, Alex and Will Gabree, and Jack, Kate and Tommy Leland; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; his sisters, Sandra (Kerr) Hudson and Brenda (Kerr) Smith; and his cherished daughter, Melanie Kerr Gabree.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.

John "Duke" Kerr will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him. May he rest in peace.