J. Henry Cyr, 97

February 17, 2021

Everyone lives life hoping it matters. J. Henry Cyr lived a life that mattered and lived that life fully. On Wednesday, February 17, 2021 Henry passed away peacefully at Garden Spot Village, New Holland PA on his 97th birthday. Henry was born in Keegan, Maine and graduated from Juvénat des Pères Maristes Sillery, Québec in 1943.

Henry served two years in the United States Army at the end of WWII and did his basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was stationed at Ft. Missoula, Montana and then Camp Cooke, California.

Upon discharge from the Army Henry returned to his home state to attend college at the University of Maine. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering, 1952. He graduated cum laude and was a member of the Honor Societies; Alpha Zeta (Agriculture) and Phi Kappa Phi (Scholastic).

Henry Cyr spent his professional life as a Design Engineer with Sperry New Holland in New Holland, Pennsylvania. He had many foreign assignments including a Field Test Engineer in Colombia and Peru. He was a Liaison Engineer at the Combine Manufacturing Plant in Zedelgem, Belgium. He spent several years working on a special design project and was the Design Manager at New Holland – France plant in Longvic-Les Dijon, France. Henry worked for Sperry New Holland for 30 years retiring in 1982.

The first year after retirement Henry took a position with Ronco Consulting Company of Washington D.C. in Burundi (Central East Africa). He spent a year there and served as the Mechanical Advisor and Acting Principal Advisor at the Kajondi Seed Farm. The project was sponsored by the Republic of Burundi and USAID. Henry donated a cooking pot from his time in Burundi to the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster PA.

Upon his return to Lancaster, Henry enjoyed volunteering at Landis Valley Museum, sailing, water skiing and cycling the beautiful Lancaster County countryside. Henry was a long-time member of the Lancaster Ski Club and enjoyed skiing at many different resorts over the years. His last international ski trip was to Zermatt, Switzerland in 1995. Henry continued his love of photography which he started during his career to chronicle his travels and loved to share the thousands of slides with his friends and family.

Henry was a long-time member of Saint John Neumann Church in Lancaster and belonged to the Knights of Columbus for a brief time.

He will be reunited with his parents, Louis V.F. Cyr and Anna Dufour Cyr, and his siblings, Elise Levesque, Ernest Cyr, Ludger Cyr, Louis Cyr Jr., Rudolph Cyr, George Emile Cyr, Peter Cyr and Paul Cyr. He is survived by his brothers and sisters; Cora Gagnon of Simsbury CT, Germaine Ciriello of Somers CT, Jeanne Cormier of Somers CT, Gerard Cyr of Basking Ridge NJ, Adhemar Cyr of Southington CT, Lucille Dionne of Grand Isle ME, Joel Cyr of Ft. Lauderdale FL, and Noel Cyr of Manchester, CT. Henry will be deeply missed by his many nieces and nephews, especially his caregiver Louise Fichot and her husband George of Long Valley NJ.

Mass Intentions will be said for Henry at all masses on March 7th at Saint John Neumann Church. A live stream can be viewed on their website at https://www.sjnlancaster.org/. Due to the Coronavirus, a Celebration of Life will be held at the convenience of the family in Northern Maine, where Henry’s ashes will rest with his father.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Lancaster Catholic High School, 650 Juliette Avenue, Lancaster PA 17601 or St. John Neumann Catholic School, 601 E. Delp Road, Lancaster, PA 17601.