Hary P. Puente-Duany

1944-2017

In 1939, Hary's parents came from Cuba to the District of Columbia on a diplomatic visa. When his brother Rafael was 6 (1944), Hary was born at the Columbia Hospital for Women in D.C. In 1945, the family returned to Cuba. From elementary school through high school, Hary attended el Colegio de Belen, a Jesuit school in Havana. In his senior year, as the government was about to take over the school, he left the island and went to live with his aunt and uncle in Livingston, New Jersey. There he learned English and finished high school at Livingston High. He then completed three years at Newark College of Engineering while working as a photographer.

In 1965, Hary volunteered to serve in the US Army. As a Specialist Five, he spent three years in Vietnam where he earned the Bronze Star Medal. His parents arrived in the U.S. while he was serving in Vietnam.

In 1972, Hary moved to D.C. and while pursuing a degree at George Washington University, he began working at the U.S. Civil Service Commission (now Office of Personal Management). During the Nixon administration, he worked at the Cabinet Committee, moving on to the Department of Agriculture, the Health Resources Administration, the Veterans’ Administration, and finally to the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Office (VETS). He retired in 2005 as Director of VETS Office of Information and Management.

In 1978, he married the woman he saw from across the room, Noelia. He was a devoted husband and father to his three children, Veronica, Hary, and Andres.

In his retirement, Hary continued to be the household chef, making daily runs to various grocery stores in the area looking for the best prices. When he was not cooking, he was on the computer staying informed about world news, national and local politics, nutrition, the latest gadgets, etc. He also volunteered at the Langley Park Spanish Catholic Center and the St. Camillus Church Food Program. Until recently, he was very actively involved with Posts 28 and 217 of the American Legion.

The one thing Hary enjoyed the most was preparing delicious meals for Noelia, Veronica and Josh and his three granddaughters, Hary Jr., Andres and Angie, and for our friends, many of whom have been part of our family for many years.