Harry
Harry Semmes, Jr.
d. July 3, 2014
Harry H. Semmes Jr., 94, died peacefully on July 3, 2014 at Buckingham’s choice, a retirement community in Buckeystown which he and his wife, Luette Goodbody moved to in 2001. He suffered from Alzheimer’s. Eldest of four brothers, he was born on Dec. 1, 1919 in the District of Columbia, where he lived most of his life. His parents were Harry H. Semmes, a Washington patent attorney, and Juanita Hopkins of San Antonio Texas. He was preceded in death by his brothers Raphael and J. Gibson, but is survived by his youngest brother, David. He is also survived by his wife of 65 years, Luette Goodbody.
He attended Friends School in Washington, Woodberry Forest prep School
in Virginia and Dartmouth College. After Pearl Harbor, when the first
term of his junior year ended, He enlisted in the cavalry. After OCS he
was sent to the Pacific theater as a first Lieutenant in command of an
amphibian cavalry tank Unit. His last landing was on Saipan, where he
was wounded and also received the Distinguished Service Cross as well as
a purple heart. He was released from the army as a retired officer in 1945.
He raised his family in Potomac Maryland and was a passionate horseman
and an active member of the Potomac Hunt, of which he was Master from
1973 to 1979. On his horse Suncastle, he entered many of the Seven
Corners point-to-point races with success. In 1966 he was awarded the
Martini and Rossi trophies for Horse of the Year and Rider of the Year.
Most of his business career was in the field of real estate. His firm,
Semmes & Co., concentrated on selling Land to developers in Montgomery,
Frederick and Fairfax, VA. In the 60's, with his brother David and Robert
Ladd he built an office building at the Crossroads of River Rd. and
Falls Rd. in Potomac Village.
A funding member of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Potomac, he led a
successful drive to raise money from other businesses in the village to
install a bell in the church’s bell tower. He was also a board member of
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery, MD. And was successful in obtaining
a number of sites from builder friends on which Habitat could build. A
volunteer service award was been established with his name
He is survived by four children, Harry Semmes, III his wife BJ Breen and
their two children as well as two grandchildren, Guy Hopkins Semmes and
his wife Dana and their two children, Thomas G. Semmes and his wife
Joyce Berman and their one daughter and Luette Semmes, MD and her two
children.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Habitat of Montgomery
County, 9100 Gaither Rd., Gaithersburg, MD. 20877 or the Residents
Assistants Fund at Buckingham's Choice, 3200 Baker Circle, Adamstown, MD.
He attended Friends School in Washington, Woodberry Forest prep School
in Virginia and Dartmouth College. After Pearl Harbor, when the first
term of his junior year ended, He enlisted in the cavalry. After OCS he
was sent to the Pacific theater as a first Lieutenant in command of an
amphibian cavalry tank Unit. His last landing was on Saipan, where he
was wounded and also received the Distinguished Service Cross as well as
a purple heart. He was released from the army as a retired officer in 1945.
He raised his family in Potomac Maryland and was a passionate horseman
and an active member of the Potomac Hunt, of which he was Master from
1973 to 1979. On his horse Suncastle, he entered many of the Seven
Corners point-to-point races with success. In 1966 he was awarded the
Martini and Rossi trophies for Horse of the Year and Rider of the Year.
Most of his business career was in the field of real estate. His firm,
Semmes & Co., concentrated on selling Land to developers in Montgomery,
Frederick and Fairfax, VA. In the 60's, with his brother David and Robert
Ladd he built an office building at the Crossroads of River Rd. and
Falls Rd. in Potomac Village.
A funding member of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Potomac, he led a
successful drive to raise money from other businesses in the village to
install a bell in the church’s bell tower. He was also a board member of
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery, MD. And was successful in obtaining
a number of sites from builder friends on which Habitat could build. A
volunteer service award was been established with his name
He is survived by four children, Harry Semmes, III his wife BJ Breen and
their two children as well as two grandchildren, Guy Hopkins Semmes and
his wife Dana and their two children, Thomas G. Semmes and his wife
Joyce Berman and their one daughter and Luette Semmes, MD and her two
children.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Habitat of Montgomery
County, 9100 Gaither Rd., Gaithersburg, MD. 20877 or the Residents
Assistants Fund at Buckingham's Choice, 3200 Baker Circle, Adamstown, MD.
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