Obituary of Henry Anthony Eschenbach, Jr

Henry Anthony Eschenbach, Jr. died peacefully at home early Thursday morning, November 9, 2023. He was born on August 1, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, the only child of Sophia P. Schmidt Eschenbach and Henry A. Eschenbach, Sr. Harry, as he was always called, grew up on Long Island in Lynbrook.

After graduating from high school, Harry studied and played baseball at Duke University, in North Carolina. He then went on to serve in the U.S. Army as a counterintelligence officer. He developed a love for French culture and made many life-long friends during his post in Vitry-le-François, in northeastern France. Shortly after returning to the United States, he met and married his wife of 61 years, Doris “Dodi” A. Bermudez. In 1971, a decade and three daughters later, the family moved to Topsfield, MA, and Harry began his career at W.R. Grace. Twenty-five years later, he retired as the Director of Health, Safety, and Toxicology.

To escape the long snowy winters and begin the next chapter, Harry and Dodi moved to Hilton Head Island in 1999. His own golf career cut short by rotator cuff surgery; Harry spent many years supporting other golfers as a starter at the Golden Bear Golf Course. He also became a volunteer, sharing his love of the natural world as a docent at Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge and on dolphin tours in Broad Creek. Harry also joined the Hilton Head Plantation POA, where he was an active member for nine years, including six on their Board of Trustees. His love of history spurred him to volunteer at The Heritage Library, including serving for several years as treasurer on the board of directors. More recently, Harry welcomed patients every Monday at Volunteers in Medicine.

Harry read voraciously, completed crosswords with a pen, and read The Economist each week from cover to cover. He loved to eat good food, to drink good wine, and to spend time with family and friends. He will be remembered for his animated story-telling, his quick wit, and his bad puns.

Harry is survived by his wife, Dodi; his three daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa Eschenbach and Will Smith, Denise and Rob Manning, and Jeanine Eschenbach and Brian Jurek; and five grandchildren Olivia, Alec, Rachel, Sophia and Avery.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Harry’s memory to: Volunteers in Medicine or The Heritage Library.