Harold "Happy Hal" Meltzer

Harold was born January 10, 1941 and raised just outside of Boston in Winthrop, Massachusetts. Harold graduated from Lawrence Academy Prep School in Groton, MA in 1958 and went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree from The University of Rochester in 1967 and was fond of saying, “it only took me 9 years”. Harold was married and divorced 3 times to; Virginia (m. 1967-1977), Gale (m. 1980-1982), and Deborah (m. 1993-1994). He lived in Massachusetts, New York, California, and ultimately in Hawaii for just short of 40 years, though he refused to let go of his Boston accent and whenever he encountered someone else with a similar accent he’d say “it’s nice to hear someone else speaking prahpahly”. He always said of living in Hawaii, “everyone owes themselves the best, and this is the best.”

As a young man, Harold sold paint brushes for the Fuller Brush Company, was in the Army Reserves, worked for McGraw-Hill Publishing, and sold mobile homes before finding his true calling in real estate. Harold was head broker, owner, and “big cheese” at Real Estate Consultant of Kona for nearly 40 years until his death. He bought and sold wholesale text books on the side and enjoyed regularly calling on and interacting with college professors who he described as “some of the greatest minds”. He took great pride in being a member of the Rotary Club for more than 50 years and being instrumental in starting an over 40 basketball league in Kona. Harold was well known for his eccentric loud shirts (when complimented on them he often replied, “Thanks, I just got new batteries for this one”), his greeting of “do you have time for a joke?” and his trademark sign off “ta-ta”. Harold believed the purpose of life was "to feel good, and to help others do the same" and he lived his life accordingly.

Harold is survived by his daughter Grace “Betsy” Goddard, his son in law Casey and his granddaughters Isabella and Gabriella, all of Colorado, along with countless other friends and family who will miss him very much. He was preceded in death by his sisters Frances Meltzer and Isabel Rice, mother Sara “Shirley” Meltzer, and father Jacob Meltzer.

Harold has been laid to rest at B’nai Brith Cemetery in Peabody, MA next to his grandparents, parents and sister. No funeral or services were held but we hope to have a celebration of life at some point in the future.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to: The Rotary Foundation

https://my.rotary.org/en/donate

The staff at Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel in Salem, MA is honored to care for Harold and his family. For more information or to register in the online guestbook, please visit www.stanetskyhymansonsalem.com.