IN MEMORIAL
Harry (Hank) Joseph Henry
October 1, 1927 – January 27, 2000
Howe High School Class of 1947
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Occasionally we are sadden to hear of the passing of our former
Howe/BMHS athletes. Such sad news was received on the evening of Thursday, January 27, 2000 when news was received on the passing of Hank Henry former Billerica High football player from the 1940s."Hank" was a life long Billerica resident and left Howe after his sophomore year to serve in the armed forces during World War II. Upon his return to Billerica, he completed this high school education at
HHS and competed for the late Charles ‘Chuck’ Lampson and his Howe High Warriors.Although he was harassed by the opposing team players, who called him grandpa, for returning to school and playing with kids who were only one year younger than he was. Hank went out onto the field week after week and gave it his usual 110%.
After he graduated from
Howe High School in 1947, he attended college and then served as a police officer for the Town of Billerica for 35 years until he retired in 1987 as a lieutenant. He was also a leader in the Middlesex County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. He also had a concrete block business on the side for over 20 years, which was occasionally featured on the PBS series ‘This Old House’.Ironically for Hank, his brother, Anthony ‘Babe’ Zarella, is the former principal of Woburn High School. In 1993, Hank and Babe watched as Billerica and Woburn battled for the State Division 2A Championship. The first half on Woburn’s side then over to Billerica’s side in the second.
Before the stroke that eventually led to his passing, Hank and his close friend, Bill Russell, would trek to wherever
BMHS was playing and quietly observe the game from the sidelines. Hank managed to get to a few of the games in 1999, despite suffering from the effects of his stroke, but he was unable to witness the huge games with Chelmsford on Thanksgiving Day and Newton-North at Boston University on December 4th. He was there in spirit as Billerica took home the Merrimack Valley and State Division 2A titles.Hank leaves his wife of 48 years, Claire (McDonough) Henry and his three daughters, Nancy Warny, Cynthia Witham, and Patricia Henry-Rich. He was also a loving ‘grandpa’ to three grandsons and two granddaughters.
Although Hank wasn’t a standout on the gridiron for the Indians, his presence was felt as he battled in the trenches to help bring victory to the green and white.