LACONIA - Laconia native Harry J. Price, 76, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 5, 2015 in the company of family and friends at The Retreat at Golden View in Meredith after a three-year fight against cancer.
Son of the late Robert Sydney and Ruth Pitman Price, Harry John Price was born on June 4, 1938 in Laconia. He is survived by his wife Susanne, who he has been with for 53 years; his son Jeff and his wife Cristina of Sea Cliff, NY and son Robert and wife Patricia of Campton, NH; his sister Roberta Price Burke of Franklin and predeceased by his brother George Price of Laconia. He is also survived by the six grandchildren he adored and who knew him simply as Buppa - Tristan, Alexa, Mina, Jordan, Julia and Josey.
Few individuals have better epitomized the words of the late ESPN sportscaster Stuart Scott when he poignantly noted, “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.” After being diagnosed with Stage 4 esophageal cancer in early 2012, Harry embarked on a three-year journey to live every day to it’s fullest with the help of the great team at Massachusetts General Hospital. From big events like the Super Bowl in Indianapolis and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, to the activities of his grandchildren in soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, track and field, plays and concerts or his annual family trip to Wells Beach, Maine, Harry truly treasured every day he was given. All the while he continued to be a “team player” working at Lakes Region General Hospital right up until the last few weeks before his passing.
Born the youngest of three children, Harry graduated from Laconia High School in 1956 and was the first in his family to go to college. He graduated from Plymouth State Teachers College in 1963 and embarked on a 16-year teaching career connecting with students in the Hampstead, Franklin and Timberlane school districts. A social studies and history teacher, Harry loved nothing more than taking his students on trips to Boston to inspire them in the living and breathing history of our country.
With his summers off while teaching, Harry became an accomplished sailor on his cherished “Serenity” and was a founding member and commodore of the Wentworth-by-the-Sea Yacht Club. Combining his love of history and sailing, perhaps his most memorable voyage along the New England coast was a cruise south from Little Harbor in New Castle, NH down to Plymouth, MA to see the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock.
After retiring from teaching, Harry took on a lengthy leadership role at Alpine Ridge Recreation Area in Gilford. Home of the Alpine Slide and an extensive water park back in its day, Harry had the opportunity to mentor and develop hundreds of teenagers who “worked the mountain” with him each summer. Alpine Ridge was also a “family affair” as all members of his family worked there with him over the years, including his beloved foreign exchange students from Mexico City.
When Alpine Ridge was forced to close in the early 1990’s due to an ownership change, Harry transitioned to a career in the medical services field. Beginning with a role on the staff of dear friend Dr. Ben Tuttle and followed by his last role on the billing staff at LRGH, Harry was a trusted friend and colleague to many until his passing.
Throughout his life Harry was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend who had a close connection with nature including plants and animals, especially his favorite rose bushes that grew on the same plot of land on which he grew up. He also coached many youth sports teams in Laconia including Little League Baseball and Softball and Lou Athanis Youth Basketball.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to three caring and professional medical teams who helped Harry in his fight against cancer. First, Dr. Richard O’Brien and Dr. Robert J. Friedlander and the staff at LRGH. Second, Dr. Eunice Kwak and her associates at Massachusetts General Hospital who helped turn a six-to-12 month dire prognosis into a joyful and fruitful three-year odyssey. Finally, they would also like to thank the patient and kind staff at Golden View for their exceptional care and compassion in his final days and hours.
Calling hours will be 4-7 p.m. on Friday, February 13th, 2015 at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home using the Carriage House entrance, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH 03246.
A "Celebration of Life” will immediately follow at 7p.m. also at the Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts in the memory of Harry Price may be made to the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in support of esophageal and stomach cancer research. Gifts can be made online at www.massgeneral.org/donate or mailed to the MGH Development Office, Attention: Meagan Coons, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1310, Boston, MA 02114. Checks payable to MGH Cancer Center.