Harry F. Kivler, 89, formerly of Harland/White River Junction Vermont passed away on Saturday, August 19th at his home in Dunnellon with his loving wife Cathie and beloved dog Cherry at his bedside.  He was born in the Village of Granville, New York on May 16, 1928 to Harry Cleveland Kivler and Blanche Cecelia McGuiness.

He is survived by his wife Cathie (Rice) of Dunnellon and his children: daughters Kathryn O’Connell Kivler of Port Charlotte, FL; Kerry Grace of San Diego, CA; Shannon Kivler of Charleston, NH; and sons Sean Kivler of Claremont, NH; Kelly Kivler of Alexandria, VA; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.  He was predeceased by a son Kevin Kivler and by 2 brothers and 6 sisters.

On May 16, 1944 (his 16th birthday) Harry left high school and enlisted in the United States Maritime Service.  After boot camp at Sheepshead Bay, NY and Radio School at Gallups Island in Boston Harbor he was assigned as 3rd radio officer on the SS Indiana, Texaco Oil company’s largest tanker at the time carrying high octane fuel for the destroyers.  During this tour of duty he crossed the equator at Recife, Brazil in July 1945 complete with its initiation ceremony.  Harry still holds a lifetime FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License.  After completing his tour with the Maritime Service, Harry joined the United States Marine Corps on October 24, 1945 and served 4 years.

Throughout his lifetime Harry undertook many endeavors.  Of note is the fact that although he never finished high school, he was granted a diploma based on radio school and his military experience and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Vermont, attending school at night and on weekends while his family was growing.

Other accomplishments include working on the B&M Railroad as a Fireman; TV technician at Voice and Vision in West Lebanon, NH; owning/operating his own TV and appliance store; General Manager of WRLH-TV Station Channel 31 (Lebanon, NH); Vermont real estate broker; International Ski Patrol; EMT and volunteer firefighter for town of Hartford, VT; electrician and Chief of Electrical Engineering at Cone Automatic Machine company in Windsor, VT; Technician in engineering research at Creare in Hanover, NH; worked in the fixed base operation at Lebanon Airport on weekends in the office and refueling airplanes; in a 6 year span he ran in over two dozen marathons including Boston twice and New York City, all while he was in his late 40’s; and for 28 years he taught computer electronics at the New Hampshire Technical College in Claremont, NH as an Associate Professor retiring in 1996.  He is a licensed aircraft pilot and spent many enjoyable hours flying with his wife Cathie who is also a pilot.

Harry is a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion Post #0026 in White River junction, VT.  He attended St. Anthony’s Catholic Church while living in the White River Junction, VT area.

Although living in Dunnellon at least part-time since 1997, Vermont has always been home to Harry, and following cremation, he will accordingly be laid to rest in Hartland, VT at a later date to be determined by the family.  In lieu of flowers, he asked that donations be made to your local humane society or Marion County Humane Society in Ocala, FL or Upper Valley Humane Society in Enfield, NH.