LUCERNE – Lucerne lost a longtime resident when Harold Isaiah “Haddy” Hamm, 92, passed away Monday, April 16, 2012, at his home. Remembered lovingly by family members for his love of Phillip’s Lake, RVing and estate sales, Harold leaves behind a legacy that will not soon be forgotten. He was born April 18, 1919, in Bangor, to E. Earl and Helen (Rogan) Hamm.
Harold spent his school-age years in the area, where he graduated from Bangor High School in 1937 and later the University of Maine in 1941. He earned a degree in business administration while attending the university, and was a faithful member of Phi Delta Gamma. Harold began his professional career in the Air Force in intelligence in the European Theatre during World War II. After completing his service, he returned to the Bangor area and purchased land in Lucerne, which included one of the original log cabins of the Lucerne Village Corporation. Harold and his wife of 64 years, Alice (Noyes) Hamm, still call the cabin home today. In the early 1970s, after working as president of Coffin and Wimple, Bangor, and later as district sales manager for Gibson Appliances, Harold decided to open Harold I. Hamm & Son, Inc., his own Gibson Appliance distribution company. He entered the venture with Alice and his son, Earl and they became the Gibson distributor for Maine and northern New Hampshire. A few years later, it became necessary to have storage for their appliances, so they purchased Galt Block Warehouse – a move that expanded into another thriving business. When not working, Harold and Alice spent many days out at Lucerne on the lake in the “Little Camp” or up back at the “Big Camp.” Whatever the season, they made many memories at the lake with the “gang” and then later with their children and grandchildren. If they were not at one of the camps, they were out RVing. In Harold’s eyes, the bigger the RV he could find the better. After retiring in the early 1980s, Harold and Alice bought a home in Sun City Center, Fla., where Alice played golf and swam, and Harold sat on the lanai, although he did spend his fair amount of time at the estate sales as well.
Harold is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Alice (Noyes) Hamm; son and daughter-in-law, Earl and Jeanne Hamm of Lucerne; daughter, Carolyn Hamm of Lamoine; his daughter and son-in-law, Patty and Greg Radney of Johns Creek, Ga.; five grandchildren, Gene, Amanda and Trish Hamm, and Jimmy and Becky Radney; and one dear friend he considered family, Maryellen Kimball. The family thanks the “Three M’s” – Marie, Mary and Melissa; and of course, Debbie and Linda, and Callie Gothard, PA-C, for their special care.
A graveside service will be held at a later date, time and place to be announced. If contributions in Harold’s name would like to be made, the family has requested they be sent to Humane Society of Houlton, care of Cathy Davis, P.O. Box 99, Houlton, ME 04730. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.