Harry F. Healey

Retired Essex County Sherriff and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Court Officer, Harry F. Healey, 81, beloved and deeply loved partner of Theresa Katherine, died early Monday morning, Dec. 20, 2010, at Sunrise at Gardner Park Assisted Living, in Peabody, after a gallant fight from complications of stroke. Born in Methuen, Feb. 23, 1929, he was the son of Molly (Cain) Healey and Harry F Healey. Harry lived an active athletic life as a child growing up in Salem and spent many happy days at Forest River Park playing baseball. He was very involved with Salem sports as a youth and he was a playground instructor at several local parks during the summer. A graduate of Salem High School, Class of 1946, he played both football and baseball at Salem High School. Following his graduation, he anticipated pursuing his education but he was drafted during the Korean War and proudly served the U.S Air Force. After training at Lackland Airforce Base, in San Antonio, Texas, Harry was deployed to Guam as an aviation machinist. Harry also pursued his passion for baseball and was assigned to the US Air Force baseball team of the Pacific, traveling around the Pacific islands entertaining the troops. Following his discharge, he returned to Salem and later moved to Marblehead, where his family was raised. During the day, he was employed as an insurance agent for 15 years while working part time at night as a guard at the Salem jail. He later became a correctional officer at the Correctional Alterative Center in Lawrence, while also working as a court officer at Salem District Court for 34 years, until his retirement in 2002. In his leisure time, Mr. Healey he enjoyed swimming, running and walking in both Marblehead and Salem. He was known for always walking through the city of Salem during his lunch break from the courthouse. He is also survived by three children, Maureen Mitchell of Salem, Janet Flynn and her husband, Tim, of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Patrick Healey and his fiance, Julie Castner, of Marblehead; four grandchildren, Tegan and Dillon Flynn of Chapel Hill, N.C., Elissa Luccio and her husbans, Ronald, of Boston, and Emily Mitchell of Salem; a step-granddaughter, Lia Castner of Marblehead; and a large extended family, Dr. Alyssa Kaye, her husband, Dr. Edward Kaye and their son, Dimitri, of Sudbury and Marblehead. He was predeceased by a son, John Healey, and a sister, Marie Healey. His funeral was held Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010 at 9:15 a.m., at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St. (cor. of North Street), Salem, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m., at St Ann Church, 290 Jefferson Ave., Salem. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours were Monday, Dec. 27, from 4 to 7:30 p.m., at the Murphy Funeral Home. Interment was private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Allie Castner Scholarship Fund, c/o National Grand Bank, Attn: Jim Nye, 91 Pleasant St., Marblehead, MA 01945; The Kaplan Family Hospice House, c/o Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., SuiteB-102, Danvers, MA 01923, or to the Sunrise at Gardner Park, Activity Fund, 73 Margin St., Peabody, MA 01960. For online guest book or additional information, please call 978 744 0497, or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.