Leslie M. Harnish, Esq., 90, of South Woodland Road, Scituate, died Friday, January 1, 2016 at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. He was the husband of Joan A. (Godlewski) Harnish.
Born in Pawtucket, he was the son of the late William M. and Blanche (Newman) Harnish. He had lived in Scituate for over fifty years.
He served in 2 services during WWII. He joined the Navy at 17 and was later discharged due to an ear condition that compromised his hearing. Once he was drafted he waived his discharge so that he could join the Army. In the army he travelled all over Europe as part of the C280th Engineer Combat battalion.
After returning from overseas, he attended Bryant College and later graduated from Suffolk Law in 1975. He worked for Pawtucket Mutual Insurance Company for 40 years ending his career as Senior Vice President of Claims.
In addition to his family he had a lifelong passion for sailing and the sea. He built his first boat, a mahogany sloop which he named Williwaw. He joined East Greenwich Yacht Club in 1969 to pursue his passion and enjoyed sailing with family and friends throughout his life.
Besides his wife he is survived by his children: Chris Harnish of Ft. Pierce, Florida, Cynthia Farnsworth and her husband, Richard of Waterford, Vermont, Jeffrey Harnish and his wife, Andrea of Scituate and Catherine Harnish LaMar and her husband, Andrew LaMar of Williston, Vermont, his grandchildren: Jamison Farnsworth of Watertown, MA, William Martin LaMar and Charlotte Elizabeth LaMar of Williston, Vermont and his sister, Edna Kelly of Attleboro, MA.
Memorial services at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery will be held at a later date. Please omit flowers. Donations in his memory may be made to Greenwich Bay Sailing Association, PO Box 267, East Greenwich, RI, 02818.