HARRY HEYDEN HOEHLER

1928 - 2024

HOEHLER, Harry Heyden Rev. Harry Heyden Hoehler, aged 95, died at home on December 3, 2024, in Seattle, surrounded by family. Born December 5, 1928 near Philadelphia, Harry graduated from Haverford College in 1951 and earned a Master of Divinity degree at Harvard Divinity School in 1954. In 1956, he married Judith Anderson, who would later attend HDS herself. Harry began his long career in ministry in 1959 at the First Parish in Beverly, MA. In 1964, he became minister of the First Parish of Weston. After Judith was ordained in 1975, the two forged a co-ministry and continued to serve jointly in Weston until their retirement in 1995. In 1994, the Unitarian Universalist Association honored them with the Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism. Throughout his life, Rev. Hoehler was known for his leadership on social justice issues. He was active in the civil rights movement, joining the 1963 March on Washington and going to Selma in support of voting rights. Harry participated in the effort to desegregate the Boston public schools and oversaw the founding of Roxbury Weston Preschool. He was part of a Massachusetts delegation that traveled to California in support of Cesar Chavez and the grape workers' strike in 1973. A man of deep faith and moral conviction, he understood the gospel to be calling people to promote justice and peace. Dedicated to fostering ecumenical understanding and cooperation, Rev. Hoehler served as President of the Mass. Council of Churches, President of the Mass. Bible Society, representative to the Greater Boston Church Leaders' Covenant for Urban Justice, Official Observer at the World Council of Churches in Sweden and Member of the U.S. Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East. In 1996, he and Judith jointly received the Forrest L. Knapp award for Ecumenism from the Massachusetts Council of Churches. Harry's ideas on interreligious dialogue, culminated in his book, "Christian Responses to the World Faiths". He published numerous articles in theological journals, as well as two books of sermons, co-authored with Judith. In 1984, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School. Community and family were at the center of Rev. Hoehler's life. He loved being a minister, supporting parishioners through good times and bad. After retiring, he and Judith continued serving communities as interim clergy and guest preachers and tutored in Roxbury schools. He took great joy in his wife and children, whom he adored. All who knew Harry will remember him for his personal warmth, good humor, love of classical music and prodigious command of American and European history. Harry is survived by his wife, Rev. Judith L. Hoehler; his daughter, Cynthia Hoehler-Fatton and her husband, Robert Fatton of Charlottesville, VA, his daughter, Kristen Hoehler and her husband, Spencer Curtis, of Seattle, WA; his grandchildren, Luc Fatton, Pelham Curtis, Harrison Curtis; his step-granddaughter, Vanessa Fatton and her husband, Christian Larsen; his step-great-grandson, Frey Fatton-Larsen; as well as cherished nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Carolyn Hoehler; and his sisters, Mary Hoehler Thompson, and Bonnie Metz. A Memorial Service to honor Rev. Hoehler's life will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 11 a.m., at the First Parish Church in Weston, 349 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA 02493. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite charity.

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