Harold John Howrigan Sr.1

M, #31274, b. Jun 23, 1924, d. Sep 7, 2009
Father*William Edward Howrigan1 b. Jul 10, 1888, d. Jul 21, 1966
Mother*Margaret Agnes McCarthy1 b. May 6, 1894, d. Sep 19, 1985

Family

Agnes Anne Rowley
Child

Chronological Events

Birth*Jun 23, 1924 Harold John Howrigan Sr. was born on Jun 23, 1924 at Fletcher, Franklin County, Vermont, United States.1 
 He was the son of William Edward Howrigan and Margaret Agnes McCarthy.1 
Death*Sep 7, 2009 Harold John Howrigan Sr. died on Sep 7, 2009, at age 85 at Fairfield, Franklin County, Vermont, United States.1 
ObituarySep 9, 2009  OBITUARY: Harold J. Howrigan, Sr., of Fairfield, VT, well known Fairfield dairy farmer and sugarmaker, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday afternoon, September 7, 2009, with his loving family at his side. He was born in the stone house on the home farm on June 23, 1924, the youngest son of William and Margaret (McCarthy) Howrigan. Harold married Anne Rowley in St. Ann's Catholic Church in Milton on August 8, 1953 who survives him. Following graduation from St. Mary's High School in St. Albans, he was a lifetime Professor Emeritus of Pine Hill Academy and steward of the land. He was a lifelong communicant and 60-year choir member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Fairfield. Very active in Franklin County and Fairfield town affairs, Harold was currently serving as Town Moderator, Justice of the Peace, and on the Board of Civil Authority. He was the last original charter member of the Franklin County Maple Producers Coop. He was a key contributor and leader in the agriculture industry at the local, state and national levels as a director of the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery for 25 years and President for nearly 20 years. He was currently on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for Senator Patrick J. Leahy. His influence in the dairy industry extended beyond Vermont, as Director for 20 years of the National Milk Producers Federation and former chair of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Over the years, Harold and his family received many awards and much recognition. In 1988 they were Vermont's Outstanding Maple Family; in 2001 he received the Richard E. Lyng Award for "distinguished service to dairy promotion and research'' from the National Dairy Board, and in 2007 Vermont Farm Family of the Year. He was inducted in the Vermont Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2005 and just last week received the St. Albans Rotary Citizen of the Year award. Although he received many accolades and awards, his most precious reward was his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching them work with enthusiasm, being their best fan at sporting events, and playing Texas Hold'em with them. Harold lived and farmed his entire life with a passion that was second to none. He inspired others with his eternal optimism and unwavering commitment to improve dairy and maple for future generations. He was a veracious reader and lifelong student of new technologies and methods. His advice and counsel was sought by many – first and foremost his family as well as his friends. He loved his Irish music, the sugaring season, shooting pool at the Club, dancing to good music, driving his daily circuit, and deer hunting with his extended family. He was so proud to be an American. There certainly weren't many cloudy days in his life. Occasionally, there was just.. an awful nice rain. In addition to his wife of 56 years, Anne, Harold is survived by three sons and their wives; Lawrence and Lisa (Lee) Howrigan, Michael and Penny (Paradee) Howrigan and Harold J. Howrigan, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth (Heald) Howrigan all of Fairfield, two daughters and their husbands; Bridget and Gerald Rivet of Fairfield (formerly of Cromwell, CT) and Ellen Paradee and Andrew Paradee of Grand Isle. He will be missed by his grandchildren; Harold John III, Brendan, Amy, and Adam Howrigan, Cullen and Kathryn Howrigan, Ryley and Timothy Howrigan, Emerson, Austen, Brennan and Oliver Paradee.

Published in the St. Albans Messenger (VT) - Wednesday, September 9, 2009.2
 
Burial*Sep 10, 2009 He was buried on Sep 10, 2009 at Saint Patrick's Cemetery, Fairfield, Franklin County, Vermont, United States, Find A Grave Memorial# 41747463.3 

Citations

  1. [S79] Gravestones - Find-A-Grave.com, online at findagrave.com.
  2. [S19] Obituary - Online, Newspaper or Funeral Home.
  3. [S58] Gravestones - Death Cert, Find-A-Grave, BillionGraves.
  4. [S2194] Vermont - Marriage Record, online at Ancestry.com.