H. Harlow Richardson

1934 - 2016

ANTRIM – H. Harlow Richardson, 82, of Antrim, died peacefully at home Tuesday, April 26, 2016, in the presence of his loving family. Harlow was born in New Haven, Conn. on Feb. 4, 1934, the son of Thomas F. Richardson and Pearl (Harlow) Richardson.

Harlow grew up and attended school in New Haven, Conn. He was a graduate of Southern Mississippi State College in Hattiesburg, Miss. He and his former wife, Isabel (Chapman) Richardson raised their four children in Glastonbury, Conn. before moving to New Hampshire in the mid 1970's.

In the mid 1950's he served in the U.S. Air Force as a radio operator and part of the coastal command, stationed in Cornwall, England.  There, his love of sailing began when he was recruited as a team member for a racing boat. Eventually he realized his dream of owning his own sailboat, Gotcha. He was a founding member of the Peterborough Yacht Club and he participated in the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race. He had many wonderful sailing trips to the Caribbean and Tahiti with his brother, sister and other family members and friends.

Harlow had a successful international business career with both Royal Typewriter in Hartford, Conn. and Nashua Corporation in Nashua. Fluent in Spanish and German he also spoke French, Italian, Latin and Portuguese. He traveled to 52 countries and had many interesting adventures including climbing an active volcano at night in South America and being chased down a beach by an angry sea elephant in New Zealand. In the 1980's he purchased Wide World Cheese in Peterborough and soon it was the place to go to meet friends and share good food. Eventually the name was changed to Harlow's. He sold the business to Dave Szehi and it remains a popular dining and music venue.

Harlow loved music and played the ukelele and recorder. He was a founding member of the Raylynmor Opera and cast member for many productions. He was also a member and performer of the Actor's Circle Theatre. Hobbies included golf, photography, radio controlled sailboats, model trains, flying kites, and riding his Vespa scooter-he had four Vespas over the course of his life and didn't stop riding until he was 81 years old.

From the 1990's to 2010, as a school bus driver and then a substitute teacher in the Conval district, hundreds of students remember him fondly as "Mr Harlow". Eventually he became the number one requested substitute teacher by both the faculty and students. His secret weapon for getting the students to pay attention was to promise them a recitation, at the end of class, of the spoonerism "Rindecella"--worked every time! Harlow said many times that teaching was the most meaningful and rewarding job he ever had.

Harlow is survived by his beloved partner of more than 30 years, Phebe Lewan of Antrim; his children, Zoe French and her husband, Michael of Henniker, Avery Richardson and his wife, Bing of Concord, Jonathan Richardson and his wife, Judy of Goffstown and Carolyn Fletcher of Plattsburg, N.Y. He will also be missed by his brother, Thomas F. Richardson Jr. of Nashua, his sister, Elizabeth Pulley of Winchester, Va., his 13 grandchildren and his six great-grandchildren with a seventh on the way; as well as his numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends across the country. We will all miss his infectious joie de vivre!

Visiting hours will be held Sunday, May 22, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Jellison Funeral Home, 25 Concord St., Peterborough with a Celebration of Life immediately following at Monadnock Country Club catered by Harlow's.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that contributions may be made in Harlow's name to: The Oncology Center at Monadnock Community Hospital, 452 Old Street Road, Peterborough, NH 03458 in honor of the outstanding care the staff provided over the past five years. Thank you very much.

Jellison Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online obituary or to send the family a condolence, please visit jellisonfuneralhome.com.