Landscape architect, led design and construction of school playgrounds, loved drag racing, sailing
Joe Henry. (Courtesy photo)
Joseph R. Henry, a longtime resident of Harvard, died Oct. 31, 2024, in Oxnard, California, where he had retired. Joe was born in Merced, California, and grew up on his family-owned vineyard and ranch. He graduated from Porterville High School and went on to study business at San Jose State, where he joined the National Guard. He graduated in 1966.
Joe met his future wife, Gretchen Boehm, while working at IBM. He then took a job with the Federal Reserve Bank, and they moved to Boston for Joe to take on a new position overseeing the bank’s transition to the first mainframe computers.
Having stumbled onto the charming town of Harvard, they settled there, and Joe decided to transition to a new career. He went to graduate school in landscape architecture, commuting to Amherst while also managing the horse farm of Priscilla Endicott on Littleton Country Road in town.
After Joe graduated from UMass Amherst, he started a business in Harvard, Joseph R. Henry Associates, which included civil engineers who did surveying along with septic and landscape design. Joe led the design and construction of both the first and second playgrounds at the elementary school. He and his brother, Michael, designed the installation of the drinking fountain that is located by the World War II monument on the Common.
A passion of Joe’s was drag racing. He designed his customized race car and completed and then managed Lebanon Raceway in Lebanon, New York. His last adventure was learning to sail. He was completely hooked and completed the requirements for his captain’s sailing license.
While living in town, Joe was a member of the Congregational Church of Harvard, and he kept his affiliation with the church after moving from town.
Joe leaves his former wife, Gretchen Henry; their daughter, Meghan Flynn (Sean), of Lunenburg, and son, Jonathan (Hannah) of Fort Collins, Colorado; and grandchildren Norah and Derek Henry and Avery and Colin Flynn. Joe’s brother, Michael Henry, and sister-in-law, Nancy, live in Harvard.
Burial is private.