BAR HARBOR – Harlan R. Smith Sr., 81, died peacefully June 21, 2006, at the Mount Desert Island Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born Jan. 4, 1925, in Salisbury Cove, the son of Howe C. and Linnie Smith. Mr. Smith graduated from Bar Harbor High School, served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and graduated from the University of Maine at Orono, where he was a member of the Phi Mu Delta fraternity and the Black Bear football team. He fought in the Bar Harbor fires of 1947. He taught physical education in the Norway/South Paris High School, where he also served as coach for the football team. He worked for the New York Life Insurance Co. for 30 years and retired in 1988. In September 1957, he married Suzanne Paradis. Harlan and Sue raised their five children in Portland and Burlington, Vt. Harlan was very active in his community as a member of the Burlington High School boosters, president of the St. Joseph’s Home and School Association, Little League, Babe Ruth baseball and PeeWee football coach. Harlan was an avid hunter and fisherman. After his retirement, Harlan spent his time with his wife traveling the back roads of Maine and Vermont looking for partridge or the perfect fishing spot. He was predeceased by his wife, Suzanne in 2002; his parents and brothers, Clinton, Gordon, Gerard and Sherrold. He is survived by his children, Gordon and Sharla (Vohs) Smith of Burlington Vt., Paula (Smith) and Bill Ross of Gorham, Gregory and Alaina (Metz) Smith of Houston, Texas, Harlan Jr. and Robin (Raymond) Smith of Essex Junction, Vt. and Ernest and Kristin (Schaefer) Smith of Exeter, N.H. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Jessica, Richard, Andrew and Matthew Smith of Essex Junction, Vt., William and Kristin Ross of Gorham, Jackson, Courtney and Ellen Smith of Exeter, N.H. and Corinne and Michael Smith of Burlington, Vt.; his sister, Charlotte Ingalls of Salisbury Cove; and several nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the staff at Birch Bay Village and Mount Desert Island Hospital, as well as Harlan’s niece, Mary and her husband, Tom Rush and their family for their loving care. Friends may call 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 23, at the Jordan-Fernald Funeral Home, Bar Harbor. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. June 24, at the Eden Baptist Church in Salisbury Cove. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1896, Bangor, ME 04402-1896.
HARLAN R. SMITH SR.
