Stephen Ludwig DenHartog"Denny," 84, former long-time resident of Hanover and Wolfeboro, NH, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Hanover on Monday, April 23rd. Born May 11, 1933, to Jacob and Elisabeth DenHartog of Wellesley Hills, MA, Steve's life was guided by a strong sense of independence and curiosity that he shared with all he knew. From his father, a professor of mechanical engineering, he received the gift of teaching by story; from his mother came his love of classical music.

He attended Phillips Exeter Academy, class of 1951, where he met his mentor, English teacher and Outing Club Leader, Bob Bates. From Bob he learned that the 'love of the mountains is best'. Climbing with Bates, making an assault of Mt. McKinley in 1952, and helping Bates and Dr. Charlie Houston pack for their 1953 expedition to K2 were key points in his life.

He went on to study geology at Harvard University. But he spent a little too much time with their outing club, skiing and hiking from the Harvard Hut on Mount Washington. So in 1954 he found himself in the Army, testing ordinance at their Cold Weather Testing Facility at Fort Churchill, on Hudson Bay. He did return to Harvard, and between lacrosse and climbing, he graduated with the class of 1957. His cold region buddies kept him in the loop, and he soon found himself in the Antarctic during the International Geophysical Year (IGY), 1957-58. The work and the people he met at McMurdo, the South Pole station, and on the traverse formed the basis of his depth and wealth of knowledge and stories about the cold regions.

He went on to get his Masters in Geology at the Montana School of Mines, and with the money left over from the GI bill, he took flying lessons. Flying for the Civil Air Patrol satisfied his independent, mechanical streak, and he enjoyed flying search missions and taking his kids on flights over Lake Winnepesaukee.

Eventually his arctic and antarctic experience led him to Hanover to work for the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in 1967. There he helped design, build, and then work for the Ice Engineering department until his retirement in 1993. His kids loved to say that dad blew up ice jams for a living.

It was in Hanover, on Blueberry Hill, that Steve and his wife, Sue, raised their family. They were always outside: picking blueberries, stacking wood, picking beans from the vegetable garden, hiking, skiing, and of course, spending summers on Littlest Mud Island, in Wolfeboro, NH.

His greatest love was the Island. Since he was 5 years old, the Island was his playground. There, he learned the self-reliance and independence that were his hallmark values, or quirks, however you decided to see them. He watched his father write three mechanical engineering texts; he taught MIT grad students and visiting professors from around the world how to paddle a canoe; and he built his own motor boat. He passed this great love of doing it yourself on to his family: how to dock a motor boat, spackle a window, start a water pump. Morning skinny dips, the call of loons, and the smell of two-stroke engine oil bring back a flood of memories.

Steve faced retirement and old age with full independence. He was excited to reach the age when he did not have to pay dues to the American Alpine Club. He enjoyed volunteering at the Montshire Museum, and insuring that all the books at the Etna Library were read and reviewed.

Steve was predeceased by his brother, Maarten, and sister-in-law, Joy. He will be greatly missed by his daughter and son, Dorcas (Wonsavage) DenHartog of Hanover, NH, and Maarten DenHartog of Plymouth, NH. His nieces, nephew, and their spouses are remembered with love and pride: Cathy and Gene Purdum, MI; Pieter and Gail DenHartog, HI, Alix and Scott Caulfield, ME, and Francesca DenHartog, MA. His grandchildren include: Maxwell; Aiden, Briana, and Tyler; Kate and Megan; and Elizabeth and Julia.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Montshire Museum, Thursday evening, May 24th, from 5:30-8:30pm.

Donations to the Montshire Museum, to your public radio classical music station, or blood donations to the American Red Cross can be made in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.