Ed Harding It was one of the best kept secrets - the Rotary Club's decision to award its 2008 Lifetime Service Award to Ed Harding on Thurs., April 17. The club held a very abbreviated meeting followed by the award presentation that was attended by approximately 65 (Photo Lisa Kristoff)

Rotarian Chip Griffin called him "a human with a huge heart who contributed behind the scenes."

For the family and friends of Ed Harding gathered at the Rotary Club on April 17, it was a night for recognition and praise, anecdotes and love. And as the evening went on, it was apparent that this big-hearted man attracted many a big-hearted person.

The Rotary has been honoring senior citizens of the region in connection with Patriot's Day since March 1958. This honor is known as the Lifetime Service Award and Ed Harding is the 31 st recipient.

Since 1953, this Mount Dora, Florida native has been involved in the Boothbay community. Ed and his wife, Nancy Lewis, moved to Barters Island; later they would live in Nancy's grandmother Hilda Willard's' house on Back River Road.

A professional, independent building contractor, he was a teacher and mentor to many, two such individuals, Clive Farrin and Fred Lewis, attended the ceremony.

Harding held many public offices through the 1960s and 1970s. He was a Boothbay selectman from 1960 to 1966 - chairman in 1963. He also served as a CSD trustee in the 1970s and was a Mason and a Shriner.

Many folks who have attended the Miss Shrimp Princess pageant during Fishermen's Festival know (thanks to the Q&A portion of the pageant) that Ed's youngest daughter, Liz, was the first Shrimp Princess.

What many folks may not know is that Ed Harding and the late Chetley Rittall were the founders of the festival.

Said Griffin in his remarks, "I watched Ed lead this organization for many years, threaten to quit almost as many times …" But, Ed Harding continued to be a driving force with the festival for 30 years.

And in the early to mid 1970s, Ed chaired and led the Windjammer Days festival committee.

In the late 1990s and into the new century, Harding was instrumental in getting another of the region's festivals off the ground - literally!

Harding was a member of an elite team known to the staff of the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce as the "tree elves."

It was during his time in the air - usually on a ladder - that Harding earned the "handle" "Renaissance Man." For years, when he attended chamber functions his nametag read, Ed "Renaissance Man" Harding.

Harding's talents were not bound to the land. By the 1980s, he was working for Dan DeRepentigny and George McEvoy. It was during the 10 years with the latter he took to the water although, as Griffin pointed out, "this flatlander was not a natural."

He learned to captain George McEvoy's tugboat, C.A. Harrington, that accompanied the Sherman Zwicker all along the east coast. Nancy often accompanied him on the sails between Boothbay Harbor and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

Harding was a familiar face at Boothbay's town meetings and school district meetings where he could be found in the role of moderator.

Indeed, Ed Harding has held many roles in the region, but his most endearing roles have been that of husband, father, grandfather and friend.

Numerous attendees of the ceremony spoke in turn, of the impact Ed Harding had on their lives.

Of those speakers who showed their appreciation of him, he was referred to as a great teacher, great friend and confidant with a flair for concocting the perfect Bloody Mary and fried chicken "the colonel" should have taken lessons from.

Of those speakers, many became teary as they shared their memories, and affection, for Ed, some humorous, some poignant, all heartfelt.

It was certainly the hope of all who came to celebrate with Ed Harding that they might be able to convey their awe and appreciation for all that he is and all that he has done.

His eldest daughter, Mary Jane prefaced her speech, "Mom, Where's Dad?" by saying that she and her sister, Liz, had no idea how their parents did everything they did. Where did they find the time?

And, that was one of the wonderful things about Ed Harding - he could always find the time.

Ed Harding, devoted family man and friend, skilled craftsman and captain, public servant, festival founder and Tree Elf, is a deserving recipient of the Rotary Lifetime Service Award.

"Ed Harding, with his huge heart, has made life so much better for so many of us here in the Boothbay region - and well beyond," said Griffin.

`Nuff said.