Two Reading Men Mourned, Recalled as Dedicated Volunteers

Reading recently lost a pair of dedicated volunteers as two men who served the town in a variety of capacities passed away in recent weeks.

During his opening remarks at Tuesday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting, selectman Ben Tafoya said he was sad to hear of the passing of Harold Hulse and Richard Curtis.

Both men passed away just over a week ago within one day of each other, and each man served the Town of Reading in several meaningful ways.

According to his obituary, Curtis died suddenly on September 14. Tafoya said Curtis was a former member of the Library Board of Trustees, a Town Meeting member and a volunteer at Reading Community Television.

Hulse, a World War II veteran in the United States Navy, died peacefully surrounded by his family on September 15, according to his obituary. In addition to being a former member of the Reading Conservation Commission, Hulse was also a volunteer at the polls on Election Day for many years, Tafoya said.

“We were all very sad to see (of their passing),” said Tafoya. “Both gentlemen will certainly be missed.”