Harry C. Hardy, 88 of Irvington, died February 19, 2015

Mr. Hardy was born June 8, 1926 in Washington, N.C., the son of Harry C Hardy and Sue “Sudie” Howard Hardy. Sudie’s family was one of the original settlers on Ocracoke Island, N.C. They moved to Newport News where the James River was his back yard, and he spent summers on Ocracoke Island, N.C. Harry graduated from Newport News High School in 1943, working summers at the U.S. Navy Ship Yards. He asked his Dad for a sailboat and was told they couldn’t afford to buy one. So Dad and son built his first sailboat together.

Harry was awarded a football scholarship at Duke University. When war broke out with the threat of the draft, he knew his education would be interrupted and changed to the College of William and Mary. He served in the Navy as an Electronic Mate, First Class Petty Officer on a converted aircraft carrier In the Pacific for three years.

Harry returned to the College of William and Mary in1946 where he was a devoted Kappa Alpha member. His father died that year, and he took spare jobs to support his mother and his education. He completed a degree in finance and law passing the bar in His 5th year, Class of 1950.

Harry joined General Motors in 1951 and worked as a “Jack of All Trades” in Richmond, Waynesboro, Va., New York City, Puerto Rico, Australia and Rochester, New York. When he retired, he was recruited by the banking industry.

He was an avid sailor, bridge player, tennis player and golfer with a handicap of 10. He was a member of the Monroe Golf Club in Rochester, NY., where he served on the Board of Governors for 9 years and was president for two. There he won the President’s Cup in 1999 and shot a hole in one in 1995. He was also a member of Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club. He served on the boards of the Rotary Club and Boys and Girls Club in Rochester.

In 2006, after 10 years of widowhood, he attended a reunion at WandM and reunited with Carol Achenbach Taylor Wright. He came down to see her for a weekend in Kilmarnock and never left. They were married by the Honorable Dixon Foster, who said every wedding should have some music. He pulled out his ukulele and sang the KA’s Sweetheart Song. They moved to the cottages of Golden Eagle until the summer of 2014 when they moved to Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury. Harry brought his bride two red roses every week until he became ill. Then Carol brought them to him.

He leaves a son, Thomas Hardy of Tampa, Fla., a world class surfer and senior pilot with Delta, and his wife, Vickie. His daughter, Mary Elizabeth Marcus preceded him in death.

He leaves two stepdaughters, Nell Taylor Obsharsky of Weems and Mary Taylor of Boston. Mary wrote: “Harry's love of family and fabulous sense of humor made him easy to 'adopt' when we became family. Good natured sparring over Red Sox and Yankees dominated summer visits - Harry even made good on a $.05 check upon losing a series bet.” He also leaves his beloved and devoted little dog, Lady.

A lover of the outdoors, Harry surrounded himself with pictures of lighthouses, golf buddies, and family. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday because it celebrated family.

He had a quick wit and a ready ‘Hardy’ laugh that made life fun. He was a wonderful person, intelligent, knowledgeable and wise. He was patient beyond belief, and that made for a marriage full of love and laughter. We will all miss his love, warm smile, and friendly ways.

He loved his friends, his Country and the American Flag. He will be missed and never forgotten.

He requested no service now. A memorial celebration and burial will be held with his wife, Carol, in the Memorial Gardens at The College of William and Mary at a future date.

Memorials may be made to the William and Mary Athletic Foundation for the Harry Hardy HEYFARL Scholarship Fund, P O Box399, Williamsburg, VA 23187.