Harry Eastman Page

SCARBOROUGH, ME – On Sunday, October 27, 2024, Harry Eastman Page, Sr. passed away at Portland’s Mercy Hospital. During September, Harry celebrated both his 100th birthday and attended his youngest grandchild’s wedding. At these gatherings, family and friends were able to honor his amazing life and share memories and stories with him.

Harry lived a life filled with adventure, travel and service to his country with the U.S. military. He was born on September 12, 1924 in Hartford, CT, to Eastman Manville Page and Addie Bemont Page. He has one younger sister, Mary Louise, who now lives in Tampa, FL.

Harry graduated from North Kingstown High School in Wickford, RI, and enrolled at Norwich University in Northfield, VT. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was assigned to the 635th Unit, Battery C AAA AW Battalion, in WWII. After training in England, Harry landed on Normandy Beach in France on D-Day+2. He saw combat in France, Luxemburg, Belgium and Germany. He drove one of the last trucks across the bridge out of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, prior to its detonation to prevent Nazi progress. Harry received a Purple Heart medal for his wounds during battle in Germany. After the war, he returned aboard the Antioch Victory ship and re-entered Norwich University. He graduated in June 1949 with a degree in Civil Engineering. A Norwich polo team classmate introduced his sister, Diana Haslam, to Harry. Harry enjoyed many weekends at the Haslam family farm in Lyndonville, VT. A year-long courtship with Diana ensued, resulting in an amazing 71-year marriage.

Soon after his graduation from Norwich University, Harry and Diana married and headed cross country via rail and steamship to Valdez, Alaska. Harry worked for the U.S. Army’s Alaska Road Commission out of the Porcupine Creek Road camp. He performed pioneer surveys at the Tok Cutoff and two sections of the Richardson Highway. During their stay in Alaska, Harry and Diana welcomed their sons Harry Jr. and Raymond.

In 1952, the family moved to Littleton Common, MA, while Harry worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rebuilding Hanscom Air Force Base and constructing the Air Defense Labs at the Air Force Cambridge Research Center. An avid sportsman, Harry was elected President of the Littleton Sportsman Club. Harry and Diana also added their third son, William to their growing family.

In 1956, the family moved to Cranston, RI, where Harry started work for the Haslam Heating Company. He joined the Doric Masonic Lodge and belonged for over 60 years. While in Rhode Island, their daughters Anne and Elizabeth were born. Harry and Diana purchased a summer camp at Greely’s Landing on Sebec Lake in Dover Foxcroft, Maine, where the family spent many summer vacations enjoying Maine by fishing, swimming and climbing Borestone Mountain numerous times.

In 1961, Harry joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the plant chief for the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, NH, and moved the family to West Lebanon, NH. Harry was very active in the community, joining the Lions Club in Hanover, NH, and serving as a Deacon as well as the Sunday School Director for the West Lebanon Congregational Church.

In 1968, Harry accepted employment with the Headquarters 8th Air Force at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, MA. There he coordinated the engineering operations of several New England Strategic Air Command (SAC) bases. After a year, he transferred to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, LA, where he later accepted a transfer to U.S. Air Force Europe (USAFE) in Wiesbaden, Germany. Shortly after, he was reassigned to Ramstein, Germany, and worked for NATO Programming at NATO Bases in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Belgium and the United Kingdom. Upon returning stateside in 1977, Harry worked at Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, NC, as Deputy Base Engineer. While at Pope AFB, Harry also served as Board Chairman for Pope Federal Credit Union. Harry and Diana were avid golfers and especially enjoyed volunteering at the famous Pinehurst Golf Course for PGA tournaments.

Harry initially retired in 1983 when he and Diana moved to Scarborough, Maine. They built a log home in Scarborough and started Deerfield Log Homes of Maine. The company closed in 1999 after a fire destroyed its cedar mill in Patten, Maine. While living in Scarborough, Harry worked as the Director of Public Works for the City of Westbrook, ME, from 1985-1988. Harry became an active member of Scarborough Rotary Club in 1990, serving as Secretary for seven years and is recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Harry was predeceased by his parents and wife for 71 years, Diana. He leaves his five children: Harry, Jr. of South Portland and his children Bradley (Allison), Stephen and Katherine; Raymond and his wife Heather of Scarborough, their children Miranda (Nathan) and Skylar (Breanna); William and his wife Gayle of The Woodlands, Texas, and their children Christopher (Yola), Matthew and Stefanie (Brad and their six children); Anne of West Lebanon, NH; and Elizabeth of Portland, ME.

There will be a family graveside service at Norwich University Cemetery in Northfield, VT, on November 10. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Norwich University or Scarborough Rotary Club (Education Fund). The family would like to extend special thanks to Christine Maggard for her weekly visits which brightened Harry’s day.

Please visit http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to view Harry’s tribute page and to sign his online guestbook.