Harry F. Clinton
...worked at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; 89
WILMINGTON - Harry F. Clinton, age 89, a seaman aboard the R/V Knorr during the rediscovery of the Titanic, died peacefully November 13, at Wingate in Andover, after a long period of declining health.
He was born in Woburn, June 19, 1919, a son of the late Thomas and Josephine (Strike) Clinton, and was raised in Woburn. He had lived in Wilmington for over thirty years.
Harry began working at Woods Hole in 1964 as a fireman aboard the R/V Atlantis II under Captain John Pike, and became an oiler in 1975. He transferred to the R/V Knorr in 1978 as an oiler under Captain Emerson Hiller. He retired in 1992.
Captain AD Coburn noted that Harry “would work in the engine room in a boiler suit or work clothes, but when he went ashore in port he dressed in a suit! He was long involved with what he called the "Sweet Science" of boxing once proclaiming he fought legendary boxing legend Luis Firpo. If that was the case, it was a heck of a feat!”
Prior to his employment at WHOI he was a truck driver and a construction foreman. He also served in the U.S. Navy.
He leaves several friends in the Merrimack Valley including Karl Norton of Tewksbury and Laura Fleming of Andover.
A graveside Memorial Service will be held Friday, Nov. 21, at 1:00 p.m. in Tewksbury Cemetery, Veteran's section. At his request visiting hours are omitted.