Larry was one of those people whose passing
leaves a bit of emptiness in the lives of all who
were fortunate enough to have him as a valued
friend. For ten years Larry worked with me
running the New England Amateur Radio Festival,
aka NEAR-Fest, at the Deerfield NH Fairgrounds.
He also worked with me in the radio
communications department at the annual
Deerfield Fair.
In his younger years Larry trained as an auto
mechanic and served in the US Army in Korea in
the late 1960s patrolling the DMZ where he was
exposed to Agent Orange resulting in the
illnesses that shortened his life. Later he was
accorded 100% service-related disability by the
VA.
Larry worked as a firefighter and EMT with the
Concord NH Fire Department for 25 years. He
also ran the annual military vehicle rally at Weare
NH for thirty years; the largest such gathering in
New England. He skillfully restored over sixty
scrapped M-151 JEEPs to like new condition.
We will never forget our good friend Larry......
On Friday, August 17th 2018, Larry Damour,
N1PHV, also known as “Sarge” passed away
peacefully at home with his loving family at his
bedside.
Larry and I have been close friends for 22 years. I
met Larry at the Weare Rally in 1996 when some
buddies and I hauled up a huge pile of old military
radios that sold faster than we could take the
money. We both always remembered that day.
Larry was a Fire Warden and later Director of
Operations at the New England Amateur Radio
Festival, or NEAR-Fest, for ten years. He also
worked with me as Deputy Superintendent of
Radio Communications for seven years. I also
helped him in a very small way at the Weare
Rally. It was a pure pleasure to work with Larry.
He was highly competent and totally dependable.
Most important is he was fun to be with, always
laughing and joking around. Larry knew how to
have fun. We shared many an interesting
adventure together and enjoyed a lot of private
jokes that only we understood.
Larry was a brave firefighter and EMT who saved
many lives over his twenty-five year career with
the Concord (NH) Fire Department. He was a
true patriotic American and a proud New
Hampshire boy. He served his country proudly
and willingly when some did not. He was 100%
disabled but cheerfully played out the hand he
was dealt until the end. I never heard Larry
complain. He had a wonderful supportive and
loving family, wife Dottie, children Melanie, Larry
Jr and Timothy as well as two grandkids. He
thoroughly enjoyed his work and his hobbies. The
sixty plus M-151 JEEPS he lovingly restored are
only part of his legacy.
Larry was possibly the happiest man I ever met.
Everyone should be so fortunate to have a friend
like Larry Damour.......Larry touched so many lives
including mine. He may be gone from this earth
but he will never be gone from our memory. He
was a very unique individual. My life is a little bit
emptier now that he is gone.
NEAR-Fest XXIV (Oct 12th and 13th 2018) is
respectfully dedicated to Larry’s memory.
My sincerest condolences to his family and many
many friends.
73 N1PHV, SK, de W1RC
Mister Mike
www.near-fest.com