Samuel G. Hardy, 30 year resident of New Durham, NH died February 13, 2012 at the age of 83.
Sam was born in Alabama to Samuel and Odacier Hardy. He graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1949 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Sam started his long career in engineering initially working for Allis Chalmers in Milwaukee, WI; then serving in the US Army Technical Service Unit in Toledo, Ohio. After he started his highly satisfying 40 year career with General Electric; he and his young family lived in Pittsfield, Massachusetts then Rome, Georgia. They moved to Durham, New Hampshire in 1965. Eventually they settled in New Durham, New Hampshire in 1981 and he retired as Manager of Engineering for the GE Meter Department in Somersworth in 1993.
Sam married Lorna Suzanne (Floyd) Hardy from Atlanta, Georgia in 1950 and together they raised five children. Sam and Sue were married for 61 years. Sam's love for making things showed up not only in his professional career, but in his home life. He and Sue built additions or made improvements to all of their homes. He also built toys including a series of child-driven wooden cars with refurbished motors, tree-houses and rope swings. His children delighted in their backyard adventures and the host of neighbors who came to join in with the fun. Family vacations were spent at their remote Robinson Crusoe style Caverly Mountain camp built by Sam and his family.
Sam had longstanding civic commitments to the communities where he lived. Early on, he built ham radios with his Explorer Boy Scout Troop. He actively assisted with local and national political campaigns. He devoted many hours of seasoned technical and business assistance to several public work projects in his rural New Durham, New Hampshire community.
Sam valued building strong connections and sound structures. His long commitments to his family, his work, and the communities where he lived attest to those values.
He is survived by his wife Sue, and their five children: Mary Hardy and her partner Angela Lotito; Margaret Magnifico, her husband Victor and daughter Emily; Sam Hardy, his wife Meg , and their children Jeanette, Elizabeth, and Jonathan; Jim Hardy, his wife Gayle, and their children Chris, Sam and Charlotte; Ellen Mason, her husband Tom, and their children Sadie, Sam, Clancy and Gabe (deceased). He is also survived by his sister Anne Hardy who lives in Atlanta .
Sam's memorial service will be scheduled for late spring.
Memorial donations can be made to the New Durham Food Pantry, PO Box 156, New Durham, NH 03855 or to the Salvation Army. Arrangments are in the care of Peaslee Funeral Home, 24 Central Street, Farmington, NH. To express condolences, please visit: www.peasleefuneralhome.com