NORTHEAST HARBOR – Harvey M. Heel died June 27, 2012. He was born June 6, 1929, in South Windham, the son of Matway and Olga Heel.
He grew up in Windham and was a graduate of Windham High School and the University of Maine, Orono, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and at that time he met, fell in love with and married his wife, Polly, the love of his life. They would be happily married for nearly 60 years, a wonderful marriage and a wonderful life. In 1954 Harvey and Polly moved to Northeast Harbor, where Harvey started his career in secondary education, eventually retiring from teaching at Mount Desert Island High School after 35 years and instructing more than 5,000 high school and adult students as their driver education teacher. During his career Harvey served as president of Maine Driver Education Association; he also served as the executive director of Mount Desert Island Highway Safety Council, an organization designed to cut down on the number of teenage driver accidents. He was always proud of his students. Harvey served the town of Mount Desert in several respects, as a police reservist for many years in the town and on various committees. Serving as an elected town selectman, Harvey led and coordinated the creation of the Veterans Memorial Park, an accomplishment that he attributed to his wife, Polly, who worked with him tirelessly on this cause. He also served in a voluntary capacity for Hancock County Civil Defense for a number of years. Harvey was a proud member of the military, retiring from the Army Reserves as a lieutenant colonel. One of his most memorable assignments was participating in the Nevada-based hydrogen bomb testing procedures during the early years of the Cold War. Harvey was a member of Post No. 103 American Legion, Trenton. He was also a member of the Retired Military Officers Association – Pine Tree Chapter. Harvey enjoyed the outdoors very, very much and was always interested in sports, as a participant and spectator. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, clam digger and gardener, right up to the time of his brief illness. Harvey was always gratified that as a teenager he was able to have saved a young boy from drowning. That was one of the things that he had always felt was a lasting accomplishment, saving a person’s life. Harvey was a very dedicated and caring family person, who appreciated the opportunity to watch all of his children grow up and marry and be successful adults, of whom he was very proud. His family, children and his wife, Polly, were the most important in his life, above all other of the many experiences he had had.
Harvey is survived by his loving wife, Polly; children, Paula, Matthew and Michael, and their spouses; grandchildren, Pamela and Christopher; and caring sister, Helen.
At Harvey’s request, there are no visiting hours scheduled. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, July 2, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 133 Pleasant St., Portland. Interment with full military honors will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at Woodlawn Cemetery, Westbrook. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to honor Harvey’s memory may contribute to Operation Homefront, a charity serving America’s newest veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Arrangements are under the direction of Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. Online condolences may be made to the family at
www.jonesrichandhutchins.com.