Harrison Noyes, Jr., publisher of the Norwich Bulletin, was the 53rd President of the Norwich Rotary Club, serving in the 1972-73 year.
Below is Mr. Noyes’ obituary from legacy.com
Harrison C. Noyes Jr., 85, the former publisher and treasurer of the Norwich Bulletin, died at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007, at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Without a doubt, Harry Noyes will be remembered as a gentleman. It was the word that reverberated most with those who knew him; his family, friends, and colleagues over the years.
“He was one of the last of the breed of true gentlemen,” said Bill Stanley of Norwich, a Bulletin columnist. “He was a gentle, kind family man. He had a great sense of history and his fingerprints are all over this town.”
Noyes’ family, along with the Oat family, owned the Norwich Bulletin for many generations. Mr. Noyes began his career at the Bulletin in 1952 as a reporter in the Danielson office and worked his way up to publisher and treasurer, serving in that capacity before the paper was purchased by Gannett Co. in 1981. Both his father and grandfather were also publishers of the paper.
After many years as a Norwich resident, Mr. Noyes moved to Mystic about a year ago, dividing his time between that home and a family home in Groton Long Point.
A Princeton graduate, Mr. Noyes served overseas in World War II as an artillery officer before a shoulder injury sent him back to Norwich. He met his wife, Barbara, at the military hospital in Framingham, Mass., and they were married in 1952. They have six children.
Harry Noyes’ nephew, Denison N. Gibbs of Norwich, remembers his uncle more as an older brother, since they grew up in the same house and were only 10 years apart in age. “He was loyal and decent. Integrity was his trademark,” Gibbs recalled. “He cherished his family; they came first.”
Family members said Mr. Noyes will be remembered for his honesty and dedication to the newspaper. “He was the heart of the paper. He really loved it,” said his wife, Barbara Noyes. “That was a family business, and he was happy to be there. He was proud of it.”
Most all of the Noyes’ children worked summers growing up at the Bulletin and remembered that their father expected them to be treated as any other employee.
“We had a great experience working at the paper,” Nancy Noyes said. “My dad always set a good example. He was a man of integrity and he instilled that in his children.”
Charlie Noyes said he didn’t see his father as the boss when he was publisher, because he didn’t have an ego in his position. “Dad was just dad. He had an office in the front of the building. I think that’s how he liked it,” Charlie Noyes said. “I think people saw him as a very genuine, kind and decent man.”
His former employees also remember him with respect as a quiet, dignified man who stayed in the background and managed fairly. Don Bond, a former Bulletin reporter, worked for Mr. Noyes many years ago. “What stands out the most is, he was a true gentleman,” Bond said. “Whether you worked for him or did business with him, he treated you the same.” Bond said because Mr. Noyes started out as a reporter and worked his way up, he had a habit of following news items and keeping up with the community. “Once he wrote about it, he had an interest in it,” Bond said.
Bulletin employee Gloria Connor, who worked with Mr. Noyes and his father, said Mr. Noyes was a “nice gentleman, a pleasure to work for. He always treated everyone fairly and, as a result, he was respected for it.”
Greg LaFreniere, former Bulletin editor, remembered him as a reserved man. “He was a wonderful old gentleman. He was the epitome of what an old New England publisher would’ve been,” he said.
Harry Noyes also was very generous with area institutions, Gibbs said, making contributions to Otis Library, The William W. Backus Hospital, Norwich Free Academy, and the Central Baptist Church of Norwich.
“He never turned anyone down,” Gibbs said. Mr. Noyes also was active in the Norwich Rotary Club. He served for many years as the director of the former Norwich Savings Society, now Peoples Bank. Gibbs said there were many other aspects to Harry Noyes’ personality as well.
“I would sit rapt watching him play the drums as a child,” Gibbs said. “Harry could play.”
Part of a jazz band at one time, it was the war injury that ended his musical career, Gibbs said. Despite that, Noyes golfed, hunted, fished for salmon all over the world, played bridge, and shot pool. “He was very talented in many things,” Gibbs said. “He exemplified the finest ideals in human nature, and he personified the word gentleman.”
In addition to his professional and civic involvement, Harry Noyes was a passionate outdoorsman. He was a dedicated hunter and accomplished fly fisherman; he was happiest climbing the wooded hills of northern New Hampshire or casting a fly line on the Miramachi River in New Brunswick, Canada. He also had a dry, ready sense of humor. No one loved a good story, or told a good story, as well as Harry Noyes.
Besides his loving wife Barbara, Harrison is survived by his children, Lynn Star Noyes of Noank, Sally Noyes Dowling of Groton, Nancy Whiting Noyes of Mystic, Charles Denison Noyes of Salisbury, Mass., Elizabeth Noyes Sargent of Delmar, N.Y., and James Denison Noyes of Rockport, Mass.; ten grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by two sisters, Elizabeth Noyes and Caroline Schieren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, at the Central Baptist Church, Norwich. There are no calling hours. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Harrison’s name to Central Baptist Church, 2 Union Square, Norwich CT 06360; Westbrook Fishing Club Inc., PO Box 822, Norwich CT 06360; or Miramachi Salmon Association (US) Inc., c/o Management Corp., 265 Franklin St., 20th Floor, Boston MA 02110.
Please visit the online memorial at www.Harrison-Noyes.memory-of.com to light a candle, write to the family, and to view more photographs. Liz Mugavero, reporter for the Norwich Bulletin, contributed to this obituary.