Rev. Harry Almond

EGREMONT -- The Rev. Harry Almond, 88, of Baldwin Road, North Egremont, died Sunday at Berkshire Medical Center, following a fall and brain injury four days earlier. He was chaplain of the Egremont Volunteer Fire Department and served on the Board of Health.

Born in Newark, N.J., on Nov. 25, 1918, son of Harry A. and Millard Stringer Almond, he graduated from Rutgers University and from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, both in New Jersey, and received his ordination in the Reformed Church of America in June 1947. He moved to North Egremont 21 years ago.

During World War II, Mr. Almond volunteered for the mission field and was posted to a school in Basra, Iraq.

Following his ordination in 1947, he returned to the Middle East. He was based in Iraq from 1947 to 1950, in Bahrain in 1951 and in Lebanon from 1964 to 1971. He was a fluent speaker and reader of Arabic.

He wrote a biography of his friend Mohammed Fadhel Jamali, former longtime foreign minister of Iraq. The book, "Iraqi Statesman," was published by Grosvenor Press in 1993. Other writings included Foundations for Faith (a compilation of Christian teachings, prayers and hymns), and a pamphlet published in 1982 containing a speech he gave on the subject of bridge building between Christians and Muslims.

In 1951, Mr. Almond and his wife, the former Beverly Anne Kitchen, began working full time with Moral ReArmament, an international peace-building organization. He was executive director of MRA in the United States from 1976 to 1980 and remained a board member until 1998.

He was an Eagle Scout, was active with local clergy and enjoyed painting, sailing and reading.

He and his wife would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in August.

Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters, Anne Hamlin of Medford and Betsy Lancaster of New York City; and four grandchildren.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- A service celebrating the life of the Rev. Harry J. Almond will be conducted Saturday, June 9, 2007, at 11 a.m. at First Congregational Church in Great Barrington by the Rev. Charles VanAusdall. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. at FINNERTY AND STEVENS FUNERAL HOME in Great Barrington. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Egremont Fire Department, First Congregational Church in Great Barrington or the Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance Squad, through the funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. The Rev. Almond wrote a memoir of his life, now being edited, and had just begun a book project dedicated to making the Koran more accessible to non-Muslims. Deeply concerned about the present situation in Iraq, he was pleased to learn that several members of the Iraqi Cabinet have been reading "Iraqi Statesman." In recent months, Harry had maintained regular phone contact with a senior aide to the vice president of Iraq. Although they have maintained friendships around the world, the Almonds have been very active in the communities of Egremont and Great Barrington. His two daughters, Anne and Betsy, were born in the Middle East. He also leaves two sons-in-law, Bryan Hamlin and Rob Lancaster. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevensfuneralhome.com.