Obituary

Harry Navelski

YORK - Harry Navelski, a devoted father and avid chef and outdoorsman, died Sunday evening, Feb. 25, 2007, at York Hospital after a period of declining health, surrounded by his son, Harris, and wife of 26 years, Linda (Fish) Navelski.

He was born Jan. 20, 1915, in Newington, N.H., the son of Joseph and Josephine (Siwek) Navelski, and was raised on the Navelski Farm, now the site of the Fox Run Mall.

A resident of York for the past 17 years, Harry was a member of the York Fish and Game Club, as well as the Saco River Salmon Club. Prior to living in Maine, he had been a resident of Rochester, N.H., where he was a longtime member of the Hackle and Tackle Fish and Game Club and the Atlantic Salmon Federation.

Harry began his professional career as a chef for the railroad.

During World War II, he did civilian work involving submarines that was considered top secret at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Although he desired to join the military, Harry was not able to be released from his position at the shipyard.

Harry was married to Phyllis (Marcotte) Navelski for 23 years, until her death from cancer in 1974. For many years, they owned and operated Martin's Drive-In in Rochester, N.H. The two had enjoyed spending many winters fishing together in the Florida Keys.

A few years after her death, Harry retired and sold his business to his nephew, Paul Navelski. In his retirement, Harry became part-owner, with his nephews, operating the popular restaurant, Horse of A Different Color, in Portsmouth, N.H.

Later in life, Harry was delighted when he became a father for the first time following his marriage in 1981 to Linda (Fish) Navelski. Harry became "Mr. Mom," cooking for family and friends, while sharing his passions for the outdoors and baseball with his son.

Some of Harry's fondest memories were of his many fly fishing, camping and hunting trips with family and friends to favorite spots including Little Diamond Pond in New Hampshire, Tim Pond and Fish River Lake in Maine, the Miramichee River in New Brunswick, Canada, and Labrador, Canada.

He also enjoyed playing baseball in Portsmouth's Sunset League, as well as watching and being involved as his son played baseball from T-ball to the varsity team level at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover, N.H.

In addition to his wife and son, of York and Orono where he is a student at the University of Maine, Harry leaves his brother, John Navelski of California; his sister, Veronica Burgess of Portsmouth, and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brothers Martin Navelski, Joseph Navelski and Alphonse Navelski, and his sisters Mary Mikolajcyk and Beatrice Iminski.

Visiting hours for Mr. Navelski will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. with a prayer and reflection time at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, in the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, 91 Long Sands Road, York. Visit www.lucaseatonfuneralhome.com.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 2, in St. Christopher's Church, 4 Barrell Lane, York. Burial will be in Cavalry Cemetery, Portsmouth, N.H., in the spring.

Because of Harry's love for baseball and his desire that "the kids of today enjoy fishing experiences like the ones he had growing up," in lieu of flowers, donations may be made either to the St. Thomas Aquinas Baseball Program at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, 197 Dover Point Road, Dover, NH 03820, or the Atlantic Salmon Federation's Fish Friends School Program c/o the Saco River Salmon Club, P.O. Box 115, Saco, ME 04072-0115.