NEW SHARON — Following his death on the Fourth of July, longtime Franklin County Commissioner Fred Hardy has been remembered by family and friends as an “all around good man” who cared deeply for his constituents.

Hardy, 85, died at Maine Medical Center in Portland after a long illness. A retired dairy farmer, he served as a county commissioner, representing District 2, for 22 years.

Franklin County Commissioners Fred Hardy, seen during a meeting on Sept. 25, 2013, died on July 4. He was 85. Staff file photo by David Leaming

Hardy, a New Sharon selectman, Planning Board member, Franklin Water and Soil Conservation District board member and one of the founders of the Greater Franklin Development Corp., was a man who was always fully dedicated to whatever organization he belonged, according to Franklin County Register of Deeds Susan Black.

Black said she worked in the Farmington Superior Court building as long as Hardy, and while she said the two may not have always agreed on commission issues, “you always knew where he stood and he didn’t waver from that.”

Also in the office, Marlene Bradley agreed, saying Hardy was the kind of man who didn’t let disagreement get in the way of friendship. “Even if he didn’t agree with you, he would still come in and joke with you,” she said.

“I think he really cared about the county. I think he cared about people’s tax dollars and where they went to,” Black said.

According to his obituary, Hardy was born in Waterville in 1930 and graduated from Wilton Academy in 1948. A funeral is scheduled for Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Farmington.

According to Black, Hardy stayed active across the hall in the commissioner’s office right up until his hospitalization, adding she knows there were times he wasn’t feeling well, “but he was committed to that position and he did it right up until he couldn’t.”

Describing Hardy as very much a gentleman, Black found kinship with him, as the two were both farmers — a quality she said helped instill the old-generation frugality she said Hardy was known for. She said Hardy’s distaste for non-essential spending made for some tough decisions when his conservative ways put him in a spot with the commissioners.

Black said Hardy always supported the community and helped out with the pig roast at Wilton’s annual Blueberry Festival from start to finish.

Farmington Town Manager Richard Davis also remembered Hardy as a dedicated leader.

“Fred was a really good man — a dedicated public servant who was always looking out for the welfare of his constituents,” Davis said.

“He loved to chat about issues and never held back on expressing his views. You always knew where Fred stood on matters of public policy. He was completely honest. I really enjoyed serving on various boards with Fred, and I will miss him greatly.”

Douglas McIntire — 861-9252

dmcintire@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @CD_McIntire

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