Obituary for Harold A. Radochia
On Thursday, February 2, 2023, Harold Anthony Radochia, loving husband, father, grandfather, and dear friend, passed away at the age of 94.
Harold was born on January 21, 1929 in Somerville, Massachusetts to Anthony (Antonio) and Antoinette (Liberatore) Radochia. Harold was the last living sibling of nine children, Thomas, Jean, Walter, Rev. James, William, Leonard, Evelyn, and Robert.
Harold graduated Somerville High School then attended and earned a bachelor’s degree at Boston College. He also earned a master’s degree in education from Tufts University. Harold’s 30-year teaching career began in Somerville, MA where he taught History at Western Junior Middle School and then moved on to teach Mathematics at Somerville High School. After 14 years of teaching in Somerville, Harold took a new position as head of the Mathematics Department at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield, MA where he taught for 16 years then retired.
Harold and his wife Elda Catherine Govoni (deceased, 1976), married July 4, 1955. They built their home in Wilmington, Massachusetts where they raised their three children Paul, Peter and Stephanie. Upon retirement Harold moved to York, Maine where he lived for 32 years before moving to The Edgewood Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for the last 9 years of his life.
Harold’s lifelong passion for gardening, playing the piano, caring for people, and teaching kept him active during his retirement. He was the first male member of the Old York Garden Club, OYGC, (joined in 1990). Harold initiated a garden beautification effort for the Town of York beginning with the traffic island at the corner of Route 1 and York Road. His vision, determination, and collaboration with the town, state and OYGC inspired many more public gardens in the town. The most prominent garden is located at the York Town Monument in York Center. Harold’s vision continues today by the ongoing work of dedicated members of the OYGC.
Harold was elected York Citizen of the Year 1998 for his many contributions to the town of York, Maine. Harold volunteered at York Hospital on a regular basis and remained active in the Old York Garden Club. He was often found weeding or watering a garden, playing the piano at Stage Neck Inn or at local holiday parties. Harold’s friendly smile, musical talent, and appreciation for life will be missed.
A special thank you to all the staff at the Edgewood Center in Portsmouth, NH for the wonderful care that they provided to Harold over the many years during his residency at the facility.
Harold is survived by his son Paul and his wife Sandy Radochia, his son Peter, his wife Kim, their children James and Frank Radochia, and his daughter Stephanie, her husband Victor and their daughter Grace Lee.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Christopher’s Church in York, Maine on May 13th, 2023, at 11:00 am. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Services will conclude with burial at the First Parish Cemetery followed with a reception at the First Parish Church Hall adjacent to the Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Old York Garden Club Scholarship fund may be made in Harold’s memory and mailed directly to the Old York Garden Club, P.O. Box 209, York, Maine 03909.
Harold was born on January 21, 1929 in Somerville, Massachusetts to Anthony (Antonio) and Antoinette (Liberatore) Radochia. Harold was the last living sibling of nine children, Thomas, Jean, Walter, Rev. James, William, Leonard, Evelyn, and Robert.
Harold graduated Somerville High School then attended and earned a bachelor’s degree at Boston College. He also earned a master’s degree in education from Tufts University. Harold’s 30-year teaching career began in Somerville, MA where he taught History at Western Junior Middle School and then moved on to teach Mathematics at Somerville High School. After 14 years of teaching in Somerville, Harold took a new position as head of the Mathematics Department at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield, MA where he taught for 16 years then retired.
Harold and his wife Elda Catherine Govoni (deceased, 1976), married July 4, 1955. They built their home in Wilmington, Massachusetts where they raised their three children Paul, Peter and Stephanie. Upon retirement Harold moved to York, Maine where he lived for 32 years before moving to The Edgewood Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for the last 9 years of his life.
Harold’s lifelong passion for gardening, playing the piano, caring for people, and teaching kept him active during his retirement. He was the first male member of the Old York Garden Club, OYGC, (joined in 1990). Harold initiated a garden beautification effort for the Town of York beginning with the traffic island at the corner of Route 1 and York Road. His vision, determination, and collaboration with the town, state and OYGC inspired many more public gardens in the town. The most prominent garden is located at the York Town Monument in York Center. Harold’s vision continues today by the ongoing work of dedicated members of the OYGC.
Harold was elected York Citizen of the Year 1998 for his many contributions to the town of York, Maine. Harold volunteered at York Hospital on a regular basis and remained active in the Old York Garden Club. He was often found weeding or watering a garden, playing the piano at Stage Neck Inn or at local holiday parties. Harold’s friendly smile, musical talent, and appreciation for life will be missed.
A special thank you to all the staff at the Edgewood Center in Portsmouth, NH for the wonderful care that they provided to Harold over the many years during his residency at the facility.
Harold is survived by his son Paul and his wife Sandy Radochia, his son Peter, his wife Kim, their children James and Frank Radochia, and his daughter Stephanie, her husband Victor and their daughter Grace Lee.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Christopher’s Church in York, Maine on May 13th, 2023, at 11:00 am. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Services will conclude with burial at the First Parish Cemetery followed with a reception at the First Parish Church Hall adjacent to the Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Old York Garden Club Scholarship fund may be made in Harold’s memory and mailed directly to the Old York Garden Club, P.O. Box 209, York, Maine 03909.