Harold Kramer, affectionately known by many as “Bumpy,” passed away peacefully on September 23, 2026. He was born on August 20, 1933, in Winthrop, Massachusetts, and grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Harold was a lifelong learner with an impressive career and a genuine curiosity about the world around him. He graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 1951, where he was a member of the ski team. He went on to attend Boston University for two years before receiving a scholarship through the Henry Strong Educational Loan Foundation to attend Miami University. After graduating from Miami, Harold continued his education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, where he earned a master’s degree in city planning.
Harold spent 20 years working as a city planner before transitioning into the computer and consulting fields, where he worked for another 20 years. He retired in the 1990s, but retirement never meant slowing down when it came to the things that mattered most to him: his family, his friends, and the people around him.
Harold was the father of three daughters, Julie, Lori, and Audrey, all of Marblehead. He was also the proud grandfather of three grandsons, Jack, Sean, and Ian, of Marblehead.
To his family, however, he was more than Harold or Grampy—he was “Bumpy.” When Sean was young, he could not quite pronounce “Grampy,” and instead called him “Bumpy.” The name stuck, becoming a loving nickname that followed Harold for the rest of his life.
Bumpy also had a way of making sure that his words were just as memorable as he was. He had countless sayings and expressions that became part of the family’s everyday language. You could hear him say, “My name’s Cliff, drop over any time,” or, “Let me say this about that, which I just did”. When it was time to move on, he might tell you to “get over it like an elephant’s ass over a step ladder,” “make like a tree and leaf,” or be “off like a dirty shirt.” And if things were looking particularly precarious, you might find yourself “stuck like a rat on a sinking ship.” These were just a few of the many Bumpy-isms that his family and friends came to know and love. He also had a habit of breaking into songs, often singing them just because the moment felt right. His sayings, his songs, and his unmistakable sense of humor brought laughter to countless family gatherings and will be some of the things his loved ones miss most.
Harold met the love of his life, Beverly, when he was just 15 years old. Their relationship spanned 75 years. Although they married twice and eventually divorced, they remained best friends and an important part of each other’s lives throughout the years. Their enduring friendship and love were a testament to the special bond they shared.
Harold was loved by many throughout town and was known for his kindness, warmth, and willingness to help others. But above all else, his family was his greatest source of pride and happiness. He loved being with them and made it a priority to be involved in their lives. He took particular pride in helping to raise and care for his grandsons, Sean and Jack, and the time he spent with his grandchildren was among the most meaningful parts of his life.
Some of Harold’s happiest moments were simple ones: sitting around a table with his family, especially during a holiday, enjoying a big family meal and, of course, his favorite dessert—upside-down pineapple cake.
He will be deeply missed, but his love for his family, his stories, his sense of humor, and the memories he created with those around him will live on in the people who knew him best.
He was a father, a grandfather, a friend, and, to so many, simply Bumpy. He will be deeply missed and forever loved.