WOLFEBORO — John F. Bridges, 79, son of the late former Gov. and U.S. Sen. H. Styles Bridges, loved and followed in his father’s tradition of serving the state, said Gov. John Lynch.

Following Bridges’ death Thursday after a brief battle with cancer, Lynch said: “John Bridges, like the other members of his family, deeply loved New Hampshire and worked throughout his life to make this state a better place. John unselfishly dedicated his time to preserving and protecting his beloved Lake Winnipesaukee and all water resources in New Hampshire. My thoughts and prayers, and those of my wife, Susan, are with the Bridges family at this time.”

Calling hours are from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in St. Katharine Drexel Church in Alton, with a burial Mass to be celebrated Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Bridges served as a state representative from 1970 to 1972 and District 4 Executive Councilor from 1972 to 1974. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1974.

Lynch noted Bridges then focused on the state he loved as director of Safety Services at the state Department of Safety and a longtime member and chairman of the state Water Council and the Water Resources Board.

In 1979, Bridges founded Island Real Estate in Wolfeboro, which specialized in the sales of property on the islands of Lake Winnipesaukee. In 1984, he and his family moved to Wolfeboro and his first love, Lake Winnepesaukee. Bridges has been described as a “walking history book” of the lake and its islands.

Bridges was born in Concord to H. Styles and Sally Clement Bridges and educated there before attending Admiral Billard Academy in New London, Conn., and Wentworth Institute in Boston.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 and then worked for Universal Carloading at various locations around the country before returning to New Hampshire in 1966.

Bridges is survived by his wife of 39 years, the former Barbara Grueter; daughter Cynthia, Wolfeboro; son John ,South Portland, Maine; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers David and Styles Jr.