Obituary: Richard Kent “Dick” Harder

Richard “Dick” Harder, 91, Passes Away in Steep Falls After a Life of Service and Song

Steep Falls, Maine – The Maine community mourns the loss of Richard Kent Harder, a beloved educator, musician, and longtime Colgate 13 alumnus, who died Tuesday at the age of 91 surrounded by family. Harder, who had lived most recently in Steep Falls, was a pillar of his local community, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a lifelong advocate for education and the arts.

A Life Begun in New York

Richard “Dick” Harder was born in Wellsville, New York, in 1933 to parents Dick and Sarah Harder. The only child in the family, he grew up in nearby Andover, where he developed a love for baseball and for the family hardware store that would shape his early years. Harder graduated from Andover High School before attending Valley Forge Military Academy and, ultimately, Colgate University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree as a member of the Class of 1957.

While at Colgate, Harder was a varsity soccer player and a member of the Colgate 13 a‑capella group, an experience he described as “a lifelong passion.” The group’s music would stay with him for decades, inspiring his later performances on the Jackie Gleason Show and in Carnegie Hall.

A Career in Education and Aviation

After college, Harder pursued graduate studies at Alfred University, earning a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1963. He joined the university’s admissions office, steadily climbing the ranks until he became vice president. In 1969, he and his wife, Mimsi, and their two children—Adam and Cynthia—moved to the United States Virgin Islands, where Mimsi taught at Good Hope School in Frederiksted. Harder took charge of the school’s Development Office and coached high‑school sports and physical education.

A brief stint later saw Harder become general manager of Eastern Caribbean Airways, a local airline and aviation fuel company. In the 1980s, he returned to his first love: education. Over the next twenty years, he served in leadership roles at several private schools, including Lake Forest Academy‑Ferry Hall in Illinois, Waynflete School in Portland, Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, and The Leelanau School in Michigan. Colleagues remembered him for his integrity, team‑building abilities, and a sense of humor that kept morale high even during challenging times.

Music, Family, and the Red Sox

Harder’s life outside the classroom was as vibrant as his career. He played soccer, baseball, and bowling; he was an avid golfer and a lifelong New York Red Sox fan. He took great pride in cheering for his grandchildren, who competed in field hockey, squash, ice hockey, and soccer, and he was known for his signature oyster stew at Christmas Eve, a tribute to Grand Central’s Oyster Bar.

A devoted family man, Harder’s marriage to Mimsi spanned nearly five decades. After Mimsi’s death in 2022, the couple had battled her dementia, a struggle that tested and ultimately strengthened Harder’s resolve as a caregiver. “She was the center of our family,” said his son Adam. “He always made sure we were close and that we stayed grounded.”

Harder’s love of music extended beyond the Colgate 13. He performed on the Jackie Gleason Show, sang in Carnegie Hall, and later joined barbershop quartets and community theater productions. “Dick could sing in any setting and still bring people together,” recalled a longtime friend. “Music was his way of connecting.”

The Legacy He Leaves Behind

Dick Harder’s death leaves a gap in several communities. He is survived by his son Adam T. Harder and daughter‑in‑law Kristin of Arlington, Massachusetts; his daughter Cynthia Briggs of Westport, Connecticut; and his eight grandchildren—Chloe and Erik Bertin; Briggs, Boden, and Benet Polikoff of New York; and Keira and Keagan Harder of Arlington. Many of them say his unwavering loyalty, infectious humor, and positive outlook shaped their own lives.

Harder’s legacy is evident in his long‑standing devotion to the Colgate 13, which he supported from St. Croix to Maine, and in the countless students and colleagues he mentored. He also left a personal mark on his community in Steep Falls, where he was known for his welcoming nature, culinary skill, and readiness to help neighbors in need.

A Quiet Farewell

Harder’s passing was quiet, yet surrounded by the warmth of family. He is remembered not only as a distinguished educator and musician but also as a loving husband, father, and grandfather who approached each day with zest and quick wit. His life story—from small‑town New York to Caribbean shores, from university halls to the stage—offers a testament to a life lived with purpose, generosity, and an enduring love of learning and music.