Richard Kent “Dick” Harder, age 91, died surrounded by his adoring family. He was born in Wellsville, NY to Dick and Sarah Harder as an only child and grandchild. Raised in Andover, NY and ever nostalgic for his childhood years, he often reminisced about the many escapades of his youth, playing baseball and working in the family hardware store. Dick was a graduate of Andover High School, Valley Forge Military Academy, and Colgate University, as a member of the Class of 1957. While at Colgate, he played varsity soccer and took immense pride and pleasure in singing with the Colgate 13 a capella group, both are passions that never left him. 

After graduating from Colgate, he received a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1963 from Alfred University, where he later worked in the Admissions Office and rose through the ranks to become the Vice President. After a hectic travel schedule fundraising for the university, he decided to escape the upstate NY winters and embark on an adventure with his wife and young family to St. Croix, USVI at the Good Hope School in Frederiksted, where his wife, Mimsi taught, and their two children, Adam and Cynthia, attended. There, he established and ran the Development Office and coached physical education and high school sports. After 7 years he switched careers and became general manager at an independent small local airline and aviation fuel company, Eastern Caribbean Airways. After this brief stint, he returned his passion and focus to education in private schools, where he worked his magic over the next 20 years serving as Assistant Head of School and Development Director at Lake Forest Academy-Ferry Hall, (Lake Forest, IL) Waynflete School (Portland, ME), Valley Forge Military Academy (Wayne, PA), and The Leelanau School (Glen Arbor, MI.) He was known for his integrity, team-building as an administrator, inspirational leadership, and great sense of humor. 

Dick was an athlete through and through—a soccer and baseball player, bowling league regular, devoted golfer, and lifelong Red Sox fan. But his real pride came from cheering on his grandchildren at their collegiate games, whether field hockey, squash, ice hockey, or soccer. He was equally passionate about food and family. A self-taught cook and seafood enthusiast, he was famous for his oyster stew at Christmas Eve—his homage to Grand Central's Oyster Bar—and never missed a chance to splurge on a memorable meal with loved ones. 

Dick's greatest legacy was his unwavering loyalty. He remained devoted to the Colgate 13 throughout his life, hosting concerts and supporting the group from St. Croix to Maine. He performed on the Jackie Gleason Show and in Carnegie Hall, later joining barbershop quartets and starring in community theater productions. 

Family came first. A honeymoon in Bermuda and trips to the Bahamas inspired the move to the Caribbean, where seven years in St. Croix gave his family a love for salt water, snorkeling, and warm weather. He was an unfailingly devoted, patient, and loving caregiver to Mimsi, his wife of many years, through her struggle with dementia until her passing in 2022. 

Dick was a planner. He anticipated what could go wrong and prepared meticulously, but he never let life's complications dampen his sense of humor and positive outlook. Above all, Dick lived with infectious zest and quick wit that rubbed off on those around him. 

Dick is survived by his son Adam T. Harder and daughter-in-law Kristin of Arlington, MA; his daughter Cynthia Briggs of Westport, CT; his grandchildren Chloe Polikoff and her husband Erik Bertin, Briggs Polikoff, Boden Polikoff, and Benet Polikoff of New York, NY; and his grandchildren Keira Harder and Keagan Harder of Arlington, MA.