Donald E. Hardy

Obituary

Donald E. "Hank" Hardy Sr., 84, whose love of the outdoors culminated in several trips to Alaska, died of heart failure after a struggle with colon cancer Tuesday night at his Bear Hill Road home.

Mr. Hardy's affection for nature was lifelong. In his early years, he worked with his father and two brothers as a logger and wilderness guide. He enjoyed fishing, watching wildlife and photographing the outdoors.

With relatives along for the adventure, Mr. Hardy traveled to Alaska about five times, said a daughter, Deborah L. Hardy, of Windham.

"He just liked the grandeur of it," she said. "It was so vast and awesome."

He last visited Alaska in July, with his son and his son's family. For the first time, Mr. Hardy took a ferry up the Inside Passage, getting a prime view of the majesty of the forested islands and the steep, mainland coast.

"It was something he always wanted to do," Deborah Hardy said.

Mr. Hardy was born in New City, N.Y., a son of Eugene Augustus and Blanche Edna DeNoyelles Hardy. He attended New York schools and graduated from Stony Point High School. He studied drafting and mechanical engineering in Lewiston and East Hartford, Conn.

In the early 1930s Mr. Hardy moved with his family to Amherst, Maine. On June 5, 1939, he married Barbara M. Carpenter.

He was a carpenter in the South Paris area, a draftsman for Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut and a boatbuilder for Hinckley's Boatyard in Manset.

For the rest of his life, he was a machine designer at the Portland Engineering Co. in Portland and Fayscott-Landis in Dexter where, as head of machine design, he designed tooling for automotive parts. He retired from Fayscott-Landis in 1976.

Mr. Hardy loved architectural design and built several of the homes in which he and his family lived.

"He had certain ideas about what he wanted," Deborah Hardy said.

She described her father as a meticulous and motivated worker.

"When he did a job, he did it right," she said. "He said, You plan something and you do it.' "

Mr. Hardy's talents also went into design work on the Emmaus Lutheran Church, where he was a member, in Falmouth. At one time he was affiliated with the Episcopal Church.

He was a 50-year member of Penobscot Lodge No. 39 AF & AM of Dexter.

Mr. Hardy was immensely proud of his family, who recall his wonderful sense of humor and his delight in music, dogs and children.

He also enjoyed baseball, both as a participant and spectator.

He was a pitcher in his youth, Deborah Hardy said, and he never lost his love of the game or his need to give advice. An 11-year-old grandchild is now a pitcher, and Mr. Hardy couldn't help but give this tip: "Fool the batter," she said.

Survivors include a son, Donald E. Jr. of Littleton, Mass.; four daughters, Jane F. Hardy of Hollis Center, Janet L. Tomes of Springhill, Fla., Deborah L. Hardy of Windham and Margaret A. Hardy of Newfield; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A spring graveside service willbe held in Amherst Cemetery. Arrangements are by Brookings-Smith, Bangor.