James G.”Jim” Harnedy Jr.
Machiasport
James G. “Jim” Harnedy Jr. passed away peacefully on April 9, 2020 in Machias at age 87. He
was born on October 15, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts to the late James G. Harnedy and Helen
Flanagan Harnedy. He grew up in neighboring Brookline, Massachusetts where he attended the
John D. Runkle grammar school. He completed Jr. High School at Mt. Alvernia Academy in
Newton, Massachusetts, and then did his college preparatory studies at St. Sebastian’s School.
He received his Bachelors degree in History from Boston College and did post graduate studies
at Georgetown University, Framingham State College, and MIT’s Sloan School.
Jim met his late wife of 64 years, Jane Diggins Harnedy, at a Boston College St. Patrick’s Day
dance in 1952. His wife, Jane predeceased him in December of 2017. He leaves his daughter,
Susan J. Blackwell and her husband, Robert J. Barbagallo of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and
daughter, Sandra L. Carr and her husband, James J. Carr of Summerville, South Carolina , four
grandchildren - Michael R. Blackwell and wife, Jessica Dubois Blackwell, of Ashburnham,
Massachusetts, Jennifer S. Maguire of Southport, Maine, Joseph J. Carr and his life companion,
Tondra Russell of Summerville, South Carolina and Nora J. Caldwell and husband, Robert
Caldwell of Charleston, South Carolina, and nine great grandchildren. He will also be greatly
missed by Duncan, his West Highland white terrier and constant companion.
Jim’s love for his adopted State of Maine began with a trip to Deer Island on Moosehead Lake in
1939. On a return trip to Moosehead Lake the following summer, he caught the largest brook
trout caught that season. Summers in Maine were part of his young experience and he knew that
at some time, Maine would become his home.
He started his professional life, as an analyst with the National Security Agency in Washington,
DC. After five and a half years in the Intelligence Community, Jim returned to New England to
join the burgeoning defense electronic industry with Sylvania Electronic Systems Division. Here
he rose from a technical writer to manage the total documentation task of the Minuteman Missile
Ground Electronic Program, for which Sylvania was the prime contractor. Upon completion of
that program, Jim worked for a number of high tech companies as a senior manager in the
publications and technical support area. He finished his industrial career with Digital Equipment
Corporation as Strategic Planning Manager at the firm’s Augusta, Maine plant.
In life Jim enjoyed being involved in a number of diverse activities. He was an organic gardener,
and he, and his late wife, Jane loved dogs, and they raised and showed Kerry Blue terriers for a
number of years, as well as operated a small exclusive boarding kennel in Boothbay, Maine. Jim
in his third professional career was the author of a number of books and magazine articles, as
well as being an editor and co-publisher of several Maine magazines. He served on a number of
boards and councils including: Boothbay Region Art Commission, Parish Council of Our Lady
Queen of Peace Church, Boothbay Harbor, and St. Peter the Fisherman Parish Council, in
Machias. Bishop Joseph J. Gerry, O.S.B. selected Jim to serve two terms on the Portland
Diocesan Pastoral Council. Jim was also appointed by Governor Angus King (now U.S. Senator)
to three consecutive terms on the Board of Visitors of the Down East Correctional Facility.
A private Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Rev. Philip Clement at Holy Name
Catholic Church, Machias, Maine, St. Peter the Fisherman Parish on Tuesday, April 14th,
followed by internment at Hillside Cemetery, Bucks Harbor, Machiasport, Maine.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.mcclurefamilyfuneral.com