Obituary of Hormidas Tavernier

Hormidas "Harry" Joseph Tavernier passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. He was born in Baltic, Connecticut on March 6th, 1918, the son of the late Hormidas and Bertha (Gobielle) Tavernier. He graduated as Valedictorian in 1936 from Norwich Free Academy, where he was also Poet Laureate and Concert Master of the student orchestra. He worked at Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL &P) as an electrical engineer for 45 years until his retirement in 1981. While working at CL & P he went to New Haven College where he received an Associate of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1959. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Harry married Carol Chalker of Madison in 1941. He was a violinist and she was a cellist. The two of them formed the foundations of the Tavernier Chamber Music Group. Their String Quartet was recognized by the National Amateur Chamber Music Assoc. Carol predeceased Harry in 1999. His great love was playing the violin, which he taught himself, and his playing was well known throughout Connecticut. As a young man, Harry played at dances in Occum Connecticut, in a building now called – appropriately - Harry's Market. Later, as a resident of the Shoreline area he was concert master, first violinist or violist with numerous orchestras, including the Community Symphony Orchestra in Clinton Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut Symphony and Cappella Cantorum. His children remember his early morning violin exercises, which served to train their ears musically and helped them prepare for their day. Son Paul said "The different scales he played corresponded to different actions, such as brushing teeth and eating breakfast." Harry was active in local affairs, serving on PTA's and as a member of the Ivoryton Congregational Church. He also loved photography and entered some of his pictures at state and county fairs, where he would often win prizes. Most of all he enjoyed playing with his many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even one great-great grandchild. He is survived by three sons, Steve of Groton, George and his wife Michele of Bristol , and Paul and his wife Susannah, of Oakland, California, and thirteen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter. Harry lost his beloved daughter Charlotte to cancer in 1997. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at the Ivoryton Congregational Church, 52 Main Street in Ivoryton at 11:00AM. Burial will be privately held in the West Cemetery in Madison. Memorial contributions may be made in Harry's name to the Ivoryton Congregational Church, P.O. Box 578, Ivoryton, CT 06442.