Obituary for Michael D. Harman
Captain Michael Dean Harman Jr. of the Medfield Fire Department left us unexpectedly on Saturday, July 10, 2021, surrounded by loving family and the sea. He was born in Norwood, Mass. on March 14, 1978.
Mike lived his life for the things that he loved most. At Medfield High School he played soccer, football and was an avid hockey player. He was Captain (no surprise there), a two-year Tri-Valley League All-Star and a four-year varsity player. He held MVP honors for two years and was also a Midfielder for the state semifinalist MHS Soccer Team. He went onto play hockey at Franklin Pierce College as a first-line defenseman. Michael was also allegedly a “lifetime-student” at a certain college in New England as a Political Science major, which may or may not have earned him a significant discount on ski lift passes. He continued playing in Men’s leagues for years and more recently he had been trying to keep up with and outskate his nieces and nephews.
Mike spent several winters working and skiing at Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, California. He worked in the off-season back East with his friends at Shady Tree Landscaping, Manganello Landscaping, and later in life, for Cronin Sealcoating. Eventually he found his way to work as an EMT for AMR in Boston.
To say Mike loved his career with the Medfield Fire Department is an understatement. He was hired as a call firefighter in town in 2003. Two years later he was hired as a full-time firefighter/EMT. Mike graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy Class #1865 on February 26, 2010. He was promoted to Lieutenant four years later and he has been the Local 4478 Union President since 2016. Mike was working towards his degree in Fire Science and was recently promoted to the rank of Captain.
Mike was responsible for all Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement in Medfield since 2017. He was also in charge of the yearly Open House at the Fire Station during Fire Prevention Week. He wrote and was awarded a grant for the town to fund the S.A.F.E. (Student Awareness of Fire Education) program.
Every school-aged child in Medfield at some point during the fire drills would have received a friendly wave and a big smile from him -- letting them know everything was going to be OK. Mike was known to take one lucky kid aside to pull that fire alarm for the drill, like he always wanted to as a kid. In addition, Mike was always happy to fire up an engine for a Birthday Party Drive-by during the pandemic on his days off.
Mike racked up quite a list of accomplishments while working at the fire house. He spearheaded and ran the Fire Cadet Program in Medfield, beginning Fall 2019. This program was important to him as it was developed for teenagers, helping prepare them to serve as the next generation of Firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Mike became the first person in the department’s history to help deliver a baby in the back parking lot of the Medfield Fire Station. He was also due to receive a Lifesaving Award for a recent motorcycle accident on South Street in Medfield.
Mike was as humble as they come. It was his leadership, his bravery, and his calm and caring nature that made him the face you wanted to see when a firefighter shows up in your time of need. There were so many stories of Mike, helping in times of trouble and literally saving people’s lives that his family never even knew about. Whether it was holding the hand of someone in a hospital bed or just his mere presence, when that friendly face showed up it was exactly the reassurance someone needed to signal everything was going to be alright. This was truly the epitome of Mike.
Mike married the love of his life, Sue MacGinnis, in 2007 and they recently followed their dreams to Falmouth, Mass. He won the lottery with Sue -- they complimented each other in every aspect of their lives. They built the life they always dreamed about and are proud they took that chance.
Other than their pets, Mike’s pride and joy was their boat ‘Best. Day. Ever’ because time with family and friends was his priority. He was known as Captain Mike long before he was Captain Harman at the Fire Department. If you spent the day with Mike and Sue you were just going to have the best day ever. If you were in Mike’s circle of friends, it was for life. No time or distance could change that. As a friend recently said, when Mike had that “twinkle in his eye,” you had better buckle up and enjoy whatever fun was in store. We have all seen THAT TWINKLE.
Mike and Sue loved to travel, and when he wasn’t at work, he spent his days with family and friends. Some of their favorite spots were Aruba, Ogunquit, Lake Winnipesaukee, the ski slopes of Loon Mountain, Lake Tahoe, Topsail Island, and Cape Cod and Islands. The Aruba sunsets were a favorite as they vacationed there every year with Mike’s family.
Mike was the life of every party and his joy was infectious. He mastered the sport of relaxing and upheld the stereotype of being the Grill Master Firefighter.
Everyone who knew Mike would agree that he gave the best hugs — they were all encompassing, making you feel safe, welcomed and loved. He hugged with every part of his being.
He also loved to make people laugh and he loved to crack himself up in the process. He had a great laugh, a truly genuine laugh. A laugh that once got him in trouble when it carried across Lake Winnipesaukee. His love of funny and inappropriate T-shirts often got him high-fives and chuckles from strangers on the street. We will honor him by telling these stories (well, not all of them) and keeping the good times going.
Mike had broad shoulders and we know he will carry us through this heartache. He lived the life he imagined with Sue.
He leaves behind his best friend and beloved wife Susan (MacGinnis) Harman of Falmouth. Proud and loving parents Michael and Nancy (McIntyre) Harman, adoring sister Laurie Harman of Medfield, In-Laws Donald and Janet (Krueger) MacGinnis of Medfield, Sister-in-Law Jennifer (MacGinnis) Pelkey and her husband Matthew of Norfolk and Brother-in-Law Michael MacGinnis of Holliston, loving nieces and nephews Trevor, Charlie, and Elizabeth Pelkey and Jack and Rowan Fiers. He also has many amazing and fun cousins, numerous loving aunts and uncles, many friends and his brothers and sister at the Medfield Fire Department.
Visiting hours will be Tuesday, July 20th, 2021 4:00pm - 8:00pm at the Roberts Mitchell Caruso FH, 15 Miller St, Medfield. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either:
1. The Michael Harman Scholarship Fund
Make checks payable to “Town of Medfield - Michael Harman Scholarship” and send to Medfield Town Hall,
459 Main Street, Medfield MA 02052.
2. The Medfield Fire Cadet Program
Make checks payable to “The Medfield Fire Cadet Program” and send to Medfield Fire Station, ATTN Fire Chief 114 North Street, Medfield MA 02052.
A Celebration of Life is being planned and friends and family will be notified. Please visit Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home for updated information.
Mike lived his life for the things that he loved most. At Medfield High School he played soccer, football and was an avid hockey player. He was Captain (no surprise there), a two-year Tri-Valley League All-Star and a four-year varsity player. He held MVP honors for two years and was also a Midfielder for the state semifinalist MHS Soccer Team. He went onto play hockey at Franklin Pierce College as a first-line defenseman. Michael was also allegedly a “lifetime-student” at a certain college in New England as a Political Science major, which may or may not have earned him a significant discount on ski lift passes. He continued playing in Men’s leagues for years and more recently he had been trying to keep up with and outskate his nieces and nephews.
Mike spent several winters working and skiing at Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, California. He worked in the off-season back East with his friends at Shady Tree Landscaping, Manganello Landscaping, and later in life, for Cronin Sealcoating. Eventually he found his way to work as an EMT for AMR in Boston.
To say Mike loved his career with the Medfield Fire Department is an understatement. He was hired as a call firefighter in town in 2003. Two years later he was hired as a full-time firefighter/EMT. Mike graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy Class #1865 on February 26, 2010. He was promoted to Lieutenant four years later and he has been the Local 4478 Union President since 2016. Mike was working towards his degree in Fire Science and was recently promoted to the rank of Captain.
Mike was responsible for all Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement in Medfield since 2017. He was also in charge of the yearly Open House at the Fire Station during Fire Prevention Week. He wrote and was awarded a grant for the town to fund the S.A.F.E. (Student Awareness of Fire Education) program.
Every school-aged child in Medfield at some point during the fire drills would have received a friendly wave and a big smile from him -- letting them know everything was going to be OK. Mike was known to take one lucky kid aside to pull that fire alarm for the drill, like he always wanted to as a kid. In addition, Mike was always happy to fire up an engine for a Birthday Party Drive-by during the pandemic on his days off.
Mike racked up quite a list of accomplishments while working at the fire house. He spearheaded and ran the Fire Cadet Program in Medfield, beginning Fall 2019. This program was important to him as it was developed for teenagers, helping prepare them to serve as the next generation of Firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Mike became the first person in the department’s history to help deliver a baby in the back parking lot of the Medfield Fire Station. He was also due to receive a Lifesaving Award for a recent motorcycle accident on South Street in Medfield.
Mike was as humble as they come. It was his leadership, his bravery, and his calm and caring nature that made him the face you wanted to see when a firefighter shows up in your time of need. There were so many stories of Mike, helping in times of trouble and literally saving people’s lives that his family never even knew about. Whether it was holding the hand of someone in a hospital bed or just his mere presence, when that friendly face showed up it was exactly the reassurance someone needed to signal everything was going to be alright. This was truly the epitome of Mike.
Mike married the love of his life, Sue MacGinnis, in 2007 and they recently followed their dreams to Falmouth, Mass. He won the lottery with Sue -- they complimented each other in every aspect of their lives. They built the life they always dreamed about and are proud they took that chance.
Other than their pets, Mike’s pride and joy was their boat ‘Best. Day. Ever’ because time with family and friends was his priority. He was known as Captain Mike long before he was Captain Harman at the Fire Department. If you spent the day with Mike and Sue you were just going to have the best day ever. If you were in Mike’s circle of friends, it was for life. No time or distance could change that. As a friend recently said, when Mike had that “twinkle in his eye,” you had better buckle up and enjoy whatever fun was in store. We have all seen THAT TWINKLE.
Mike and Sue loved to travel, and when he wasn’t at work, he spent his days with family and friends. Some of their favorite spots were Aruba, Ogunquit, Lake Winnipesaukee, the ski slopes of Loon Mountain, Lake Tahoe, Topsail Island, and Cape Cod and Islands. The Aruba sunsets were a favorite as they vacationed there every year with Mike’s family.
Mike was the life of every party and his joy was infectious. He mastered the sport of relaxing and upheld the stereotype of being the Grill Master Firefighter.
Everyone who knew Mike would agree that he gave the best hugs — they were all encompassing, making you feel safe, welcomed and loved. He hugged with every part of his being.
He also loved to make people laugh and he loved to crack himself up in the process. He had a great laugh, a truly genuine laugh. A laugh that once got him in trouble when it carried across Lake Winnipesaukee. His love of funny and inappropriate T-shirts often got him high-fives and chuckles from strangers on the street. We will honor him by telling these stories (well, not all of them) and keeping the good times going.
Mike had broad shoulders and we know he will carry us through this heartache. He lived the life he imagined with Sue.
He leaves behind his best friend and beloved wife Susan (MacGinnis) Harman of Falmouth. Proud and loving parents Michael and Nancy (McIntyre) Harman, adoring sister Laurie Harman of Medfield, In-Laws Donald and Janet (Krueger) MacGinnis of Medfield, Sister-in-Law Jennifer (MacGinnis) Pelkey and her husband Matthew of Norfolk and Brother-in-Law Michael MacGinnis of Holliston, loving nieces and nephews Trevor, Charlie, and Elizabeth Pelkey and Jack and Rowan Fiers. He also has many amazing and fun cousins, numerous loving aunts and uncles, many friends and his brothers and sister at the Medfield Fire Department.
Visiting hours will be Tuesday, July 20th, 2021 4:00pm - 8:00pm at the Roberts Mitchell Caruso FH, 15 Miller St, Medfield. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either:
1. The Michael Harman Scholarship Fund
Make checks payable to “Town of Medfield - Michael Harman Scholarship” and send to Medfield Town Hall,
459 Main Street, Medfield MA 02052.
2. The Medfield Fire Cadet Program
Make checks payable to “The Medfield Fire Cadet Program” and send to Medfield Fire Station, ATTN Fire Chief 114 North Street, Medfield MA 02052.
A Celebration of Life is being planned and friends and family will be notified. Please visit Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home for updated information.