The Board of Directors and staff of RAIN express our considerable sadness to learn that our former Treasurer, the very dedicated and spirited team player Harry Schult, suddenly passed away on June 10th.
We loved Harry and drew ever closer to him over the course of his years on the Board where he provided keen financial advice and guidance. Harry had the welcome gift of enthusiasm. During our time together, Harry joined our many initiatives and became committed to the rural and nomadic people whose lives were improved by RAIN’s educational work in West Africa. He very much enjoyed the effort and we all appreciated his good nature, attention to detail, and advice. Even after his stroke last year, he continued to be supportive, actively discussed RAIN’s work with his friends, and lifted our spirits with his efforts.
Harry’s public interest and political appetite extended throughout the New Hampshire Seacoast community with his service on several boards and his active engagement in the downtown Portsmouth area. He was an internationalist, and his politics preferred the national stage. He embodied the idea of “thinking globally, acting locally,” and gave of himself generously. He could give as well as take good-natured ribbing and was eager to smile. His interests were wide-ranging and his sense of goodwill and humor contagious.
Sadly, Harry leaves us after a year of struggling with great determination to overcome the rather disheartening limitations from his stroke. We regretted his struggles but were impressed with his grit. We are deeply appreciative of all of his efforts on behalf of RAIN, and will remember and cherish his legacy in the years to come.
On behalf of all of us, thank you deeply, Harry Schult.
John Ahlgren and Allison Reedy, on behalf of the Board of Directors of Rain for the Sahel and Sahara, and Bess Palmisciano, Executive Director.
