- Date Of Death: January 16, 2008
- State: Connecticut
John F. Harder, 91, of 200 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, passed away Jan. 16, 2007 after a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of Lucille Esposito Harder. Born in Milford Dec. 23, 1916, he was the son of the late Alfred J. & Marion Gebhardt Harder, and the stepson of Helen Duggan Harder. Mr. Harder had a long career in the field of public welfare in New York & Connecticut. From the early 1950’s until his retirement in the 1980’s, he served at many levels of administration, including Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Welfare during the administrations of Governors Abraham A. Ribicoff and John Dempsey, and was District Director of the New Haven Office, Dept. of Income Maintenance when he retired.
He married the former Lucille Esposito in August 1945 with whom he raised 4 sons, Michael J. Harder of New Haven, Peter J. Harder of Nice, France, Christopher M. Harder of Santa Cruz, CA. & James Harder of Brecksville, OH. He was a grandfather of 6 boys: Matthew, Stephen, Joshua, Loic, Christopher Ian and Eric; and great grandfather of 5 children: Braeden James, Kealey Lauren, John Peter, Monroe Olivia & Keaton Avery. He did dishes and changed diapers for decades. He quoted Winnie-the-Pooh at the most appropriate times. Whenever he was needed by a friend, he could usually be found in Hundred Acre Wood, sitting back to back with one grandson or another, having a little something together. Also surviving are 3 sisters, Cecily Kikukawa of Hawaii, Jean Harder of PA. and Monica Kelly of FL. He was predeceased by a sister, Joan Harder, formerly of Southbury.
A long time parishioner of St.
