Harry Leonard Walen of Exeter, N.H. died, Friday, Aug. 22, 2008, at Langdon Place in Exeter. He was 93.

Born in Winchester, Mr. Walen was the son of the late Harry Leonard Walen and Alice (Garland) Walen. He was a graduate of Newton High School, Class of 1933. He continued his education and graduated cum laude from Harvard University, Class of 1937. He received his master of arts degree from Harvard in 1942.

He lived in Los Alamos, N.M. and in Groton before settling for 30 years in Newton from 1946 to 1978. He and his wife retired to their roots on Cape Ann, settling in Rockport, where they lived from 1978 to 2005. When he was 90 years old they relocated to Exeter, to be closer to their three sons.

Mr. Walen had a long and distinguished career as a teacher, principal and school administrator. Among his professional positions, he served as instructor of English and as faculty marshal at Newton Jr. College from 1946 to 1951. He taught English and journalism at his Newton High School alma mater from 1946 to 1951, and as administrator there from 1951 to 1955. He was directing editor of secondary school English textbooks at Ginn & Co., Boston, from 1955 to 1961. He returned to public school service as principal of Needham High School from 1961 to 1972. He concluded his career in schools as post-secondary guidance counselor at Needham from 1972 to 1979.

He held membership in many professional organizations as well as Department of Education committees and task forces. He authored numerous books on literature, history, recreation and career education. He contributed chapters, articles and poems to a number of books, professional journals and periodicals.

 Mr. Walen was an alderman for the city of Newton from 1961 to 1972, a member of the Newton Regional Manpower Planning Board from 1973 to 1977, and chairman of Newton Highlands Congregational Church Board of Christian Education from 1974 to 1975. Active in the National Conference of Christians and Jews, he participated in a member study mission to Israel in 1974.

A John Hay Fellow in 1965 and a Massachusetts Department of Education Commonwealth Fellow in 1971, he also received a citation from the U.S. Commissioner of Education in 1971 and, in the same year, was recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation from the city of Newton. He received many other awards and honors.

Mr. Walen was a life member and past president of Friends of Jackson Homestead, Newton Historical Society. He was active in the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendents and many other organizations of historical lineage. He held membership in the Boston Athenaeum, Harvard Club of Boston, Boston Authors Club, English Lunch Club, Friday Evening Club, and Sandy Bay Yacht Club. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, holding a 50-year award.

Husband for 67 years of the late Elizabeth (Rowe Benson) Walen, who died in 2006, he leaves his sons, H. Benson Walen and his wife, Lois, of Rindge, N.H., Kimball Walen and his wife, Jean, of Kingston, N.H., and Robert Walen and his wife, Susan Cormier, of Amherst, N.H.; his brother, Roger Walen and his wife, Constance, of Marion; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three nieces.

His memorial service is scheduled to be held Saturday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, Rockport.

Burial will be in Locust Grove Cemetery, Rockport.

Memorial donations may be made to the following: the music program at the First Congregational Church, School Street, Rockport, MA 01966; the Pilgrim John Howland Society, 33 Sandwich Ave., Plymouth, MA 02360; the music program at the Exeter Congregational Church, Front Street, Exeter, NH 03833; Thatcher Island Association, Rockport, MA 01966; or Sandy Bay Historical Society, Rockport, MA 01966.

Brewitt Funeral Home, Exeter, N.H., assisted the family with arrangements.

For online guest book, visit www.brewittfuneralhome.com.

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From Chris Pahud (NHS '69)    Oddly enough, my niece is also a grand daughter of Harry Walen.  Harry died last month at age 93 and I took my niece to his memorial service in Rockport where his family was from originally and where he had lived these past 30 years.  Very nice service.  Needham was never mentioned.