Everett R Hardy

He was born in Manchester, NH on October 9, 1925 and grew up in Hooksett. He graduated from Central High School in Manchester, and later earned certificates in Basic Electronics at the Broward Institute of Electronics, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Intermediate and Advanced electronics at the NH Technical Institute in Manchester, NH. He also completed Radio and Television Servicing at the National Radio Institute, Washington, DC. He was a ham radio operator, holding the call sign N1KHR.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Carol J. (Bradley) Hardy, son Jonathan and wife Susan of Pembroke, NH, son Thomas and wife Allison, also of Pembroke, granddaughter Rachel and her husband Lucas Pozzetta of Pembroke, and grandson Joshua of Epsom. He is also survived by his extended family of stepdaughters Kristina (Restivo) and husband Charles and their children Nicolyn, Katherine, and Joseph of Grapevine, Texas, Amy (Cormier) and husband David and their children Zachary and Katelyn of Laconia, NH and son David and wife Stephanie of Castle Rock, Colorado. He also leaves behind many nephews and nieces and their families.

He was predeceased by his first wife of 40 years, Bernice (Bragdon), brothers Charles, Vincent and Elliot, sisters Cora (Morse) and Evelyn (Howe). He was also predeceased by a granddaughter Nicole Hardy, and nephews Mark Hardy and Russell Hardy.

During his life he worked a number of interesting jobs at several companies, including Keller Products, Northeastern Engineering, Jacks Beach Service, and Dictaphone /Pitney- Bowes.

Long before it was fashionable, he and Bernice would travel between Florida and Maine to work at Jacks Beach Service in Ft. Lauderdale during the winter, and with partner Bob Mitchell, their own beach rental company Atlantic Sun Beach Service in Old Orchard Beach, Maine during the summers. Children put the kibosh on that lifestyle, with Everett returning to work at Northeastern Engineering in Manchester to work on high-accuracy frequency counters and precision time standards for the US Navy.

After the company decided they would move the operation south, he went to work for the Manchester branch of the Dictaphone Corporation, where he had been hired as a technician on the spot while talking with the manager during a lunch break from his job at Northeastern. Over time at Dictaphone, it became obvious that he had a gift for selling the equipment as well as installing and repairing it. With a bit of training at the corporate training facility in Columbia, South Carolina, he quickly became a top salesman in the company, earning trips all over the world. In the last few years before his retirement, he was also a part-time instructor at the sales training center where the management wanted to know how he did so well. His answer was to always be honest with the customer, and outwork the competition.

Everett was very active in the town of Hooksett, including serving as a long time member of the Central Hooksett Water Precinct (over 40 years), as well as a number of other boards and committees including the Budget Committee and Cub Scout pack 292. For many years he was the Emcee for the Hooksett Men’s Club Citizen of the Year ceremony, except for the year (1984) when he was chosen as the citizen of the year. He was also instrumental in the planning of Hooksett’s sesquicentennial celebration in 1972 and had been looking forward to this year’s bicentennial events. He did all of photographic work in his father Charles R. Hardy’s book, Hooksett Historical Sketches.

His hobbies and interests were diverse, including hunting and fishing, boating, photography, ham radio and genealogy. For many winters in the late 1960s you could find Everett working weekends at the Amherst Bedford Ski Tow, run by the Bragdon family, where he was also known to carve many a turn on the short but steep slopes. Following his younger brother Elliot, he was the next of his generation to become computer literate. He also became a ham radio operator later in life, including learning Morse code at the age of 65. He had a keen interest in the Civil War, and was a member of the Sons of Union Veterans.

After his retirement from Dictaphone (by then it was owned by Pitney-Bowes), he and Carol continued to travel, including destinations in England and the Caribbean, vacationing at Hampton Beach and the Ellacoya resort in Gilford, and riding the Amtrak train to Portland. He took great joy in the weddings and births on both sides of the extended family, and always looked forward to the big family Christmas get-togethers.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The family would like to thank the caring staff of the Visiting Angels, Pathways, Genesis Hackett Hill Center, the Elliot Hospital, and the Hooksett Fire/Rescue and Police departments.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 4 to 7 PM at the Bennett Funeral Home, 209 N. Main St, Concord.

Burial will take place at the Martins cemetery on August 13, 2022 at 11 AM, followed by a celebration of life at the Red Blazer, Manchester Street, Concord from 12 to 4 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hooksett Historical Society.

The Bennett Funeral Home in Concord, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements.