John B. Harlan

John Harlan, age 62 of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, passed away on Wednesday, June 9th 2021. He beat the odds time and time again from a diagnosis of stage 4 esophageal cancer in January of 2020. Throughout his illness he never, for even a second, thought about how to die, but only about how to live. This and so much more were his gifts to everyone he knew. He lived in the moment, enjoyed it, and invited us to do the same. 

John was born in Yokosuka, Japan on December 18, 1958, the second son of Lt. Cmdr. Donald M. Harlan and Virginia Balch Harlan. He is survived by his wife Laura Harlan, his mother Virginia Harlan, his brothers Michael Harlan, Jeffrey Harlan, Peter Harlan, sister Deborah Osborn, as well as thirteen nieces and nephews and one grand niece.  John and Laura were married on April 5, 2020 at the height of the pandemic because they loved each other so much. In fall of 2020, they went to Disney World in spite of his cancer. 

John graduated from Marietta College in 1981 with a major in Communications. He was a talented drummer and played throughout his life. John joined the airforce in 1984 and served for 14 years. He was stationed in Colorado, Alaska, Greenland, and many other locations. After leaving the Air Force he worked in Kuwait and later settled in the Boston area where he held a variety of positions in technology support, most recently for Partners HealthCare, Somerville MA. John always enjoyed returning to his family’s shared home in the mountains of New Hampshire and said that he found God in Chocorua every time he was there. He had strong faith in a Higher Power, enjoyed decades of sobriety and fellowship in AA, and leaves his Second Life followers saddened that he’ll no longer be DJing his weekly country music dance party. He will be deeply missed by many for a very long time. 

Donations in John’s honor may be made to: 

The Chocorua Lake Conservancy P.O. Box 105, Chocorua, NH 03187 www.chocorualake.org/donate

or 

Good Shepherd Community Care, 160 Wells Ave, Newton, MA 02459  gscommunitycare.org/Donate

Good Shepherd Community Care hospice  along with VA Medical and Hospice Services, provided a model of compassionate care throughout John’s illness. 

A local memorial service will be held in Brookline, Massachusetts at  Larz Anderson Park Shelter Area, 250 Goddard Ave on Wednesday, July 7 beginning at 4:30 pm. 

A celebration of John’s life will be held in Chocorua, New Hampshire on Thursday, August 12, starting at 2 pm. Please contact the family for details. Arrangements entrusted to Southeast Funeral Home, 93 Center Street, North Easton MA 02356.