Vincent Depaul Harder

Vincent De Paul Harder of Mays Landing, N.J., came into this world Feb. 9, 1938, in Utica, N.Y. – naked, broke and bewildered – to Dan and Irene Harder. He was to remain broke and bewildered through nine years at Sacred Heart Grammar School, and four years at Utica Catholic Academy, carping through a very happy and unconscious childhood, thanks to a fiercely protective mother; brothers Joe, Jack, Jim, Danny and sister Marie, and the father figures of Uncle Vincent Murphy and FDR. After graduation from UCA, Vincent entered the U.S. Army Security Agency where he graduated from U.S. Army Language School of Monterey, Calif. – one of the many false side trips in his life, always regretting having selfishly abandoned his brother Jack at Fort Devon, Mass., as a code breaker to pursue his own false destiny. He spent two years in West Berlin, Germany, as a Russian interceptor operator and then returned to Utica, where he met his future wife, Jayne Roberts. Two years later, he returned to Germany where he graduated top of his class in German at the U.S. Army Intelligence Language Institute in Oberammergau. He returned to Utica, to marry Jayne – a very happy and long 47-year union that produced the delights of life: son Michael and daughter Anneliesa. He was blessed to discover that he had somehow passed on the tenets of his mother: “the children and family first, last and foremost, and share whatever you have no matter how meager.” Michael is a pastor, and Anneliesa a registered nurse. If nothing else, that was plenty of a success story for him, if he felt a failure by the world’s standards. Once again, he returned to West Berlin, with Jayne dancing with the devil before he could break away from just one more false turn. After Michael’s birth, the family returned to Utica, then NYC and then South Orange, N.J., where he established Harder Locksmith and worked at Seton Hall University, graduating with a BA in Modern Languages – Russian and German in 1985. He left South Orange for Atlantic City, N.J., and worked for Local Carpenters Union 623 at the Sands and Trump’s Castle, later retiring after 25 years. Most of all, he loved his wife Jayne, his children Michael and Anneliesa, his grandchildren, Nathan, Lauren, Arianna, Gillian and Kyle, and his brothers and sister – and he has been absolutely delighted with his son-in-law Jerry and daughter-in-law Teresa. He was a pre-natal Democrat and lifelong Independent voter. “Pull me now over the river Styx. With no coin for my eyes, once again naked, broke, and bewildered. I no longer fear what awaits me. I finally find the truth. Have I lived a good life? Are my children my testimony?” A viewing will be held 4 to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at Parsels Funeral Home, 324 New Jersey Ave., Absecon, N.J. A service will follow at 5:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1035 Hooper Ave., Toms River, N.J. 08753. For condolences, please visit www.parselsfuneralhome.com.