Obituary of Harold J. Cleary

Harold J. Cleary died Nov. 13, 2014, in Springfield, Va. He was 84. He leaves behind his wife, Jane; his three sons, Michael, Robert and Douglas; his sister, Margaret; his brother James; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by younger brothers Thomas Anthony, formerly of Cupertino, CA, Paul Vincent of Fairfield, Conn., and Leo Francis of Boston and younger sister, Ann Catharine of Jamaica Plain, Mass. Hal also leaves a number of loving nieces and nephews. Hal was born in Boston, Mass., to Harold J. Cleary and Marion Corinne nee Chalifoux. He never called himself Junior. Music was his lifelong passion. He took up the trombone in high school, and played in a Boston orchestra at age 19. He was most devoted to his singing, joining several singing groups throughout his life, including the Bach Choir in Bethlehem, Pa., and the Washington Chorus and Washington Men’s Camerata in Washington D.C. A baritone, Hal was a frequent soloist and sang at numerous churches and was cantor at a synagogue. He was a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington Music Program. Hal attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, Mass., and eventually earned two bachelors of science degrees there. A member of the Air Force ROTC, he entered active duty and served briefly in Korea, and left the service as a lieutenant. Hal went on to study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., where he earned a masters and a Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering. After receiving his doctorate, Hal accepted position at Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem, Pa., where he spent most of his career working on corrosion. He later worked as both a federal employee and an outside consultant in connection with the Yucca Flats nuclear waste containment project. He held two patents. He met his wife, Jane, at a Maurice Prendergast exhibit in Boston, afterwards going out for ice cream at a nearby Howard & Johnsons. They married in 1961, and were devoted to each other to the end. Hal loved art and discussing politics; also, he and Jane travelled extensively. Hal followed the stock market closely and liked to discuss its intricacies with others. The visitation will be held at Advent Funeral Services in Falls Church, Va on Saturday, November 22 from 6-8pm. Services will be held at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22204 on Sunday, November 23 at 3pm.