Harvey Ray Saulmon, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, father figure, United States Air Force veteran, and one heck of a nice guy, died August 3 at his home in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Born in La Junta, and raised in nearby Rocky Ford—"Nothing but rattlesnakes and prairie dogs as far as the eye could see," a common Harvey-ism went—he loved small town life as much as he appreciated a grand adventure.

After following in his father's footsteps and enlisting in the Air Force, Harvey studied Czech at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. He soon joined the ranks of the Air Force Security Service, working as a voice processing technician ("Not a spy," he'd say with a wink) atop Mount Eckstein, a Cold War intelligence gathering outpost overlooking Czechoslovakia near the rural Bavarian village of Rimbach. He made memories there that lasted a lifetime. Following six years in Germany, he spent three years as an analyst at the National Security Agency (NSA), Ft. Meade, Maryland.

For most of his career he was an electronic technician at Kollmorgen Electro-Optical in Northampton, Massachusetts, bringing home stories about testing the company's periscopes by focusing on stars or the antennas on Mount Tom.

An Eagle Scout as well as an avid actor, singer, dancer, and musician in high school, he instilled a deep appreciation for the arts and a love of the outdoors in his sons, Greg Saulmon of Holyoke and Jonathan Saulmon of Manchester, New Hampshire. He took them on countless fishing and camping trips; he helped teach them to cook; he tirelessly showed up for their sporting events, plays, and rock shows; and he compiled a trove of newspaper clippings and other memorabilia documenting their interests and achievements. He gave Greg his first lessons on guitar, picking out a Van Halen riff by ear and inspiring a passion that has brought immeasurable joy. Tales of his role in "The Glass Menagerie" at Rocky Ford High School inspired Jonathan to audition for a school play, leading to a love of theater that shaped the rest of his life.

Harvey never stopped letting his sons know how proud he was of them.

In 2001 he reconnected with his high-school sweetheart, Pauline. "We both realized that we had always LOVED each other and could not waste any more precious time of our lives to make our DREAMS come true," he wrote shortly after they saw each other for the first time in more than 30 years. They married in 2002 and spent more than two decades dedicated to loving and caring for each other. "Every day I look to the heavens and tell my sweetie to save a place for me," he took to saying after she passed away in July 2023.

He relished his role as a "bonus dad" to Pauline's daughter, Kim Visconti of Holyoke and son, Jeff Visconti of Fort Collins, and as "Papa Harvey" to Kim's children, Nicholaus and Nathan Goldstein, and Jeff's children, Janessa and Brodie Visconti. "He was one of the most gentle souls I've ever met," Nathan said. "He showed me how I would like to live my life—with kindness, patience, and respect for others."

Greg's son, Winter Saulmon Peterson, will miss getting pancakes with Papa Harvey at Rusty's in Holyoke, and collaborating on jigsaw puzzles. Jonathan's children, Winslow and Hugo Saulmon, will miss his silliness, the gruff Henson-esque voice he gave his stuffed dog, Fido, and the way their visits always made him "turn cartwheels." We will all miss the feeling we'd get when he'd say we made his "heart soar like a hawk."

In addition to his sons and their families, including their spouses Alex Peterson and Darcie Champagne, Harvey leaves behind his sister, Suzi Skobel of The Villages, Florida, and her family; and his brother, Jamie Saulmon of Rocky Ford, and his family. In addition to his beloved wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Merry Shoaf, and a granddaughter, Mathilda "Tillie" Hap Saulmon.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Mass Audubon, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773; or The Alzheimer's Association MA/NH Chapter, 320 Nevada St., Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460.