Harold L. Heussi

Harold L. Heussi, age 91, of Essex, passed away on March 6, 2026. He was the husband of the late Meredith (Comstock) Heussi, with whom he shared 40 years of marriage.

Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, Harold was the son of the late Rudolph and Gertrude “BZ” Heussi. As a boy he spent countless hours in machine shops, the Zildjian cymbals factory, and garages, including his father’s Texaco station. There he earned the nickname “Hot Rod Harry” while learning to build race cars alongside Lem Ladd, Johnny Lathrop, and Lindy Hanson. He served in the Navy during the Korean War as a radio man aboard the destroyer USS Gherardi, then earned a degree in drafting from Northeast Technical College. His technical skills were honed at MIT, Raytheon, and Thermet before he spent the remainder of his career at Dynamet Technology, Inc., where his work in metallurgy touched the fields of medical science, sports, and industry. Harold was also an accomplished photographer and painter with a refined ear for music. He loved traveling the countryside and attending reunions with his shipmates.

A proud Freemason for 55 years, Harold quietly supported many causes through regular donations. He is survived by his daughter Adrienne and her partner Tim Barton; sons Jonathan, Eric, and Jeremy and his spouse Claire Mangonon; and was predeceased by his daughter Audrey Holmstrem. He cherished his grandchildren Timothy, Lauren, Aja, Alexandra, Maizi, Andrew, and Jenelle, and his great-grandchildren Eli, Rowan, Asher, Arabelle, and Enzo. His family circle extended across the South Shore, New Hampshire, Maine, Colorado, California, Africa, and the Philippines. In Essex, he formed lasting friendships through his coffee club at Woodman’s and around town with the people he affectionately called “Townies.”