On October 25, 2023, Bernard Denton Harty said his last goodbye, surrounded by family, comforted with the thoughts and prayers of life-long friends, nieces and nephews and many others who knew him and with the exceptional end of life care and caring of the Springfield Hospital staff. Born on March 21, 1948, the fifth son of six to Lt. Colonel James and Rosemary (Bixby) Harty of North Walpole, NH. Bernie was proud to hail from North Walpole where he resided for much of his life and most recently for many years at the three-generation family home on 3 Birch Street.

He was predeceased by brothers, Jimmy, Eddy, Bobby and Billy. He is survived by his daughter, Lindsey and granddaughter, Hanne of Weston, VT, brother, Moe and wife, Diane of North Walpole, their daughters, Maura Fletcher and family of Keene, NH, and Erin White and family of North Walpole, and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Family, family traditions and his life-long friends were very important to Bernie!

Bernie graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1966; attended Vesper George School of Art in Boston, UVM and Bowmen Technical School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he learned the craft of watch and jewelry making. He worked in retail sales for most of his career, first at Dexter’s Clothing in Bellows Falls, VT, co-owning with his brother, Jimmy, a clothing store, Thomas-Denton in Newport, Vermont, working for Cote’s Jewelers in Bellows Falls, VT and owning and operating Harty Jewelers of Bellows Falls and Brattleboro, VT.

Bernie was very creative and artistically talented, employing those talents in many ways throughout his life yet most notably creating and building floats with the Class of 66 for the annual Bellows Falls High School Alumni Parade. The Class of 66 was the class to beat for many years winning several Grand Prizes, 1st and 2nd prizes and many honorable mentions. The annual float building experience and the camaraderie of that experience with the Class of 66 and fellow BFHS Alumni was a lifelong passion! A dream for Bernie was to attend the Rose Bowl Parade which he realized in 1990.

The family is sure that Bernie is now thinking that just maybe the Class of 66 has one last big win in the coming years!

Calling hours will take place on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 4:00 until 6:00 PM at the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT. A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 10:00 AM at St. Peter’s Church in North Walpole, NH with burial to follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Drewsville, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made Bellows Falls High School Alumni Association ABC Fund, to support float building. Donations may be mailed to BFHS Alumni Association/ABC Fund, P.O. Box 172, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.