Donald R Hardy

It is with deep and profound sadness we announce the passing of Donald Rolla Hardy on October 6, 2024. Donald was 95 years young at the time of his passing and is survived by his spouse of 54 years Ady M. Hardy and his son Donald R. Hardy Jr. He was the son of Rolla Hardy and Greta Hardy. Donald Hardy Sr. was born in 1929 in Burlington Vermont in the midst of the Great Depression and despite living in extreme hardship and difficult circumstances was proud to graduate from Burlington High School in 1947. Donald later worked for Underwood Typewriter and General Electric. Donald married and had his first daughter Carol Ann Hardy. In 1955, having had enough of the frigid Vermont winters, he made the decision to move to sunny South Florida and start a new life here.

In Miami, Don embraced the outdoors lifestyle and loved to snorkel in Key Biscayne collecting conch shells and deep-sea fish with his friends. In 1959, Donald joined Wesco, an electrical distribution company and continued working for 35 years. He was promoted to Purchasing Manager and excelled in that position despite suffering from a severe loss of eyesight from histoplasmosis with left him with only partial vision in one eye. Only a then cutting-edge laser treatment from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute saved his eyesight. In 1970 he met and fell in love with Ady and they married in 1971. Their only son Donald R. Hardy Jr was born in 1972.

In 1991 Don retired from Wesco and enjoyed frequent cruises and vacations with his wife Ady. Don also earned his ham radio license in 2010 after long thorough studying passed his exams with flying colors at age 88 as KJ4VVG. He took to the airwaves often making frequent contact with many distant countries and enjoyed displaying and collecting his QSL contact cards and was often praised for the excellence and clarity in his transmissions.

But most of all Don loved to shower his wife and son with affection and love. He never missed an opportunity to spend time with his family and was a devoted loving father and husband. His sense of humor was always a source joy for us and for anyone nearby; he could always put a smile on anyone's face. Don was lovingly called “Papi” by us and will be missed deeply and remembered as a source of strength, love and support for his family.

The funeral viewing ceremony will be held at Caballero Rivero Woodlawn South on Friday, October 18 from 5 to 10pm. The address is 11655 SW 117th Ave, Miami FL 33186. The burial ceremony will be on Saturday, October 19, funeral procession begins at 1:00. We thank you for your heartfelt condolences and support in this difficult time.