Rest In Peace, Harry Bean - February 27, 2026 Windham Independent
Rest In Peace, Harry Bean
On February 14, I lost a dear friend. Harry Bean was 71 when he passed away, but I was blindsided by the news of his demise - he never let us know he was sick before he passed away. One of his closest colleagues told me that his last text from Harry was about dealing with an issue at the next county meeting, because Harry “had to go to the hospital to deal with something”.
He was my colleague on Finance 2 since 2023, and we were a study in opposites. He rarely spoke, I am rarely quiet. A former arm wrestling champion, he was an imposing physical presence - I have the upper body of a soccer player. His family has lived in New Hampshire since 1842 - I am a naturalized citizen who arrived in New Hampshire in 1995. He married at 16, I married at 28. He rode a Harley across the US - the closest I’ll come to riding a bike is driving my topless, doorless Wrangler.
Harry worked hard every day of his life. Whether it was to make a living for himself and his family, as a state representative in Concord, as the Chair of the Belknap County Delegation, or as a volunteer, he never stopped doing something useful. If your kids ever saw Santa and his elf arriving on a Harley (yes, in December), they may have met Harry Bean and Priscilla, his wife of 55 years.
Harry made lives better for everyone around him, from his family to his community and the state as a whole - what better way to be remembered once one is gone?
He was a kind man, who listened to everyone and tried to find common ground where possible, and despite his attempts to hide behind his usual gruff manner, his actions showed his love for others.
I will miss his strength. His character. His commitment to doing the right thing every time. The stories he shared. The memory of the short time we worked together.
Nobody is truly dead as long as they are remembered, so Harry Bean will live forever - his family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and many others will never forget him.
If you’ve never met him, I will keep a video of Harry speaking on the floor of the House at the top of the Videos page of my website (www.dpm4nh.com).
He was a greater than life figure who left a profound mark on the Legislature, but the work of the people stops for nobody. So with a heavy heart, we must go on, but before we do, I wanted to share with you how much we all lost when Harry passed away.
Please reach out to me at 603 267 4142 (call or text), or by email at dpmwindham@gmail.com (a quick call or text after emailing me would greatly help) with any questions or concerns.
Daniel Popovici-Muller
Windham State Representative,
Vice Chairman, Finance II Committee
Member, Education Funding Committee