Charles William Hardy, Jr.
Charles William Hardy, Jr. of Walpole, Massachusetts, age 84, died Saturday, March 22, 2025 of pneumonia at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Needham, Massachusetts. Born in Leominster, Massachusetts on January 25, 1941, he was the only child of Charles William Hardy Sr. and Pauline E. (Wiggin) Hardy. Charlie grew up in Leominster, and in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. He graduated from Fitchburg State College in 1963 and attended the Clark University Graduate School of Geography in Worcester, Massachusetts (1963-64) in preparation for a teaching career. He taught Geography and History at Millis Junior/Senior High School beginning in 1965, then English and History at Walpole High School in Walpole, Massachusetts from 1970-2002.
During retirement, he wrote a biography of artist and philosopher Walter B. Russell (1871-1963): “A Worthy Messenger: The Life’s Work of Walter Russell.” In 2021, he founded the Russell Institute to “investigate the Russell Cosmogony,” (a new concept of the universe). Charlie was active in the Walpole Historical Society and wrote several monographs while a member.
Charlie enjoyed reading, historical and genealogical research, and writing. He leaves a strong legacy as a devoted teacher and historian. He also enjoyed painting and cultivating the plants and flowers around his home. Although Charlie was not well-travelled outside of the United States, he was quite worldly. When friends or colleagues returned from faraway trips and shared their experiences, Charlie was known to describe where they had gone with such great detail that it was like he had visited the places himself. Charles Hardy was a genuinely humble, understated and generous man with a big heart and sense of humor. He will be sorely missed by those who knew him. A private gathering of remembrance will be held at a later date.