Emile F. Harp, beloved husband of Nancy Harp and father of five, died peacefully at home on Feb. 21, 2000 in Danbury, CT, surrounded by his family. Mr. Harp, formerly of Naperville, IL, was born July 30, 1928 in Island Pond, VT, the fifth of six children of the late Richard and Jennie Harp of Berlin, NH. He attended St. Patrick’s and Berlin High School in Berlin, NH and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on academic scholarship, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering. He was elected to the honorary engineering society Tau Beta Pi while at MIT. Mr. Harp served in the Army Chemical Corps at Dugway, Utah, testing nerve gas munitions and received an honorable discharge as a 1st Lt. After working briefly for Mckesson & Robbins Allied Chemical in Delaware where he met his future wife, Nancy, Mr. Harp joined Mobay Chemical (now Bayer) in New Martinsville, WV, advancing to Plant Technical Superintendent. After Mobay, Mr. Harp joined Armour Industrial Chemical Co. in Chicago, where he organized an engineering department that built what is still the world’s largest fatty nitrogen derivatives plant in Morris, IL. Later, as a Vice President of Akzo (now Akzo Nobel), the world’s seventh largest chemical company, Mr. Harp’s Central Engineering Department designed and constructed plants in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Brazil. Upon retirement from Akzo in 1993, he became a volunteer tutor with the Literacy Volunteers of America and later a board member. He founded the technical placement firm The Engineers Group Inc. and was a founding member and first president of The Greater Danbury Men’s Club. Although he enjoyed much success in his professional career, Mr. Harp was most proud of his family and took great joy in his children and grandchildren. He will always be remembered for his incredible warmth, courage, generosity, wit and love for his family, and he will be sorely missed. Mr. Harp pursued his many interests and hobbies with vigor. Blessed with a green thumb, he loved to garden and was known for his bountiful flower and vegetable crops. He was an avid sailor and cyclist, and he remained active throughout his life, swimming regularly at the Brookfield Y.M.C.A., even throughout his 2 1/2 year battle with cancer. He took daily power-walks and his neighbors will miss waving to him. Mr. Harp was also a voracious reader and enjoyed woodworking and bridge as hobbies. Mr. Harp is survived by his wife, the former Nancy Dowdell of Kennett Square, PA; children, Ann Harp Hausle of North Salem, NY, Diane Rayfield of Riverside, IL, Susan Harp Prostka of Redmond, WA, Lisa Zinck of Wheaton, IL and Richard Harp, M.D. of Cherry Hill, NJ; and 11 grandchildren. He is also survived by his three sisters, Julia Harp, Helen Harp and Elizabeth Moreau; and brother, Anthony Harp, all of Berlin, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church, 138 Candlewood Lake Road, Brookfield, CT at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Friends may call at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT, Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Regional Hospice, 30 West St., Danbury, CT 06810
