Vesta M. Roy

Vesta M. Roy
Acting Governor of New Hampshire
In office December 30, 1982 – January 6, 1983
Preceded by	Hugh J. Gallen as Governor
Succeeded by	John H. Sununu as Governor
Personal details
Born	March 16, 1925 Dearborn, Michigan
Died	February 8, 2002(2002-02-08) (aged 76) Kenmore, New York
Political party	Republican

Vesta M. Roy (March 26, 1925 – February 8, 2002) was a Republican New Hampshire politician, born in Dearborn, Michigan.

As president of the state Senate, she served as acting governor of New Hampshire from December 29, 1982 until January 6, 1983 as a result of the death of Governor Hugh Gallen shortly before the inauguration of the governor-elect, John H. Sununu. Roy served as a state senator from 1978 until 1986. As acting governor, she was the first Republican woman governor in the history of the United States as well as New Hampshire's first female governor. She was also the first female governor to come to office by succession rather than by election. She served as an advisor to the New Hampshire campaigns of Republican presidential candidates Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush.

She died at her home in Kenmore, New York, at the age of 76 and was buried at Saint Joseph's Cemetery in East Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

External links

• The Vesta Roy Excellence in Public Service Series
• Find-A-Grave page on Vesta M. Roy
• New York Times obituary

Political offices
Preceded by Hugh J. Gallen Governor	Acting Governor of New Hampshire 1982–1983	Succeeded by John H. Sununu Governor