HAROLD T. 'HAP' GERRISH
BOWERBANK - Harold T. "Hap" Gerrish passed away peacefully June 29, 2006, at his Bowerbank home on Sebec Lake, with his family surrounding him. Hap was born Feb. 10, 1930, in Milo, the son of Harold L. and Frances (Towne) Gerrish. His family lived in Augusta where he graduated from Cony High School in 1948. He was an Eagle Scout, involved with football, and he played the violin in the orchestra. He attended the University of Maine at Brunswick and Orono, majoring in engineering physics. While there, he was a member of the Sophomore Owl Honor Society. Hap transferred to Tufts College as a junior, but had too many credits and ended up a senior in pre-med. He graduated from Tufts Dental School in 1955, with a DMD degree. While in dental school, he drove a taxi and also played first violin with the Boston Pops for Arthur Fielder for three years. While with the Pops, "Sleigh Ride" was played for the very first time.

The years of 1956-1957 were spent in the U.S. Army; he was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he was a paratrooper and ran the dental clinic. He also did an internship at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C.

Hap came to Dover-Foxcroft in 1957, and practiced general dentistry there until 2001, and then at Twin City Dental, Bangor. In 1973, he was elected a member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, a dental honor society. In 1992, he enrolled in a 12-month study program in the professor-training unit at Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, which led to an appointment in operative dentistry.

Hap joined the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft in 1957 and enjoyed 49 years of perfect attendance. During that time, he served as club president, lieutenant governor and governor of the New England District. He was a life member of Kiwanis International, a 49-year member of the Legion of Honor, a George F. Hixon fellow of the Kiwanis International Foundation and his name stands permanently at Kiwanis International as a three-time recipient of the Tablet of Honor. Hap served 28 years on the Board of Kiwanis Foundation of New England and was president for two years. He was a friend of the foundation and a member of the John D. Morton Society. He represented Kiwanis for more than two decades, serving as a trustee of the New England Medical Center in Boston and was a guiding inspiration of the inception and continued mission of the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute, a joint venture of the Medical Center and New England Kiwanis. Over the years, he has served as chairman at Kiwanis fund-raisers and functions for his local club and New England District.

Hap had been an active member of many community and charitable organizations including Squaw Mountain Education Ski Foundation, the Piscataquis and Maine State YMCA, and founder of the Pony Club Stables in Newburgh. He had served on hospital boards of Taylor Osteopathic Hospital, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Mayo Regional Hospital and New England Medical Center in Boston. He was also very active with the Maine Hospital Association and the Trustee Advisory Group.

Hap and his family have been hosts to four AFS students, Jan Oosterberg of Sweden, Leonard Schafer of Switzerland, Heikki Norta of Finland, and Helga Wilpshaar of the Netherlands. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a Noble of Anah Temple Shrine. Hap thoroughly enjoyed living at Sebec Lake with all the activities and especially his favorite boat "The Anamosa," which his family also enjoyed with him.

He is survived by his wife, Judy; daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Chip Loring of Utah; son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Kathy Gerrish of New Jersey; son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Vanessa Gerrish of Virginia; daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and John Ingalls of New Hampshire; daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Paul Renzetti of New York; son, David of Maine; his very special grandchildren, Karin Sheehan and her husband, Marc, Josh Sjostrom, Ben, Abby and Lindsey Gerrish, Dan and Alex Ingalls, Rebecca and Nicole Renzetti; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Gordon Canning of Maine; several nieces and nephews, and many, many close friends.

Services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 5, at the Gerrish Compound, Bowerbank.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Registry, New England Medical Center, 750 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111 or to Mayo Regional Hospital, care of Heartwise, 987 West Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.

Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft.