Gilford Rep. Harry Bean, chair of Belknap County Delegation, dies at 71

GILFORD — State Rep. Harry Bean (R-Gilford) has died, Statehouse leadership said Saturday. He was 71. 

Harry Herbert Bean was born on Dec. 5, 1954, in Laconia, and died Feb. 14, at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. 

A prominent figure in real estate, Bean purchased his first parcel in 1972, in Laconia, and, for many years, managed a restaurant owned by his parents Harry and Thelma, while working to acquire more property, according to his obituary.  

Bean was active and well-known throughout the community. A World Champion arm wrestler, Bean was a member of the Granite Arms arm-wrestling team. A member of the Rod & Gun Club, the Elks Lodge and the American Legion, Bean was a motorcycle enthusiast and enjoyed portraying Santa Claus at various holiday events.

A celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28.  

Bean was first elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2018, and, in addition to serving on the House Finance Committee, served as chair of the Belknap County Delegation. He also served on the Belknap County Republican Committee for 12 years, and on the budget committee in the Town of Gilford for three.

State Rep. Mike Bordes, the former vice chair, assumed the role of acting chair of the delegation during a meeting on Friday afternoon. The Belknap County Delegation is made up of the area's elected representatives in Concord.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte, in a statement over the weekend, remembered Bean as a devoted public servant, and said she’s saddened to hear of his passing.  

“Harry was always a steadfast advocate for Belknap County and dedicated to making our entire state an even better place to live,” she wrote.

The patriarch of the Bean family, one in a long line of Beans named Harry, he was a dedicated representative of Gilford, Gilmanton and Laconia Ward 2. Bean played a prominent role in a county dispute over the operation of Gunstock Mountain Resort in 2022.

Bordes said Monday that period provides a perfect representation of Bean’s character as a leader and as his friend. Bean saw the danger immediately, not just to the mountain, but to the communities which depend on it, Bordes said, and he worked relentlessly to bring people together, insisting the dispute over Gunstock was larger than politics.  

“It was about the region we all love,” Bordes said. “He made sure we had a quorum when it mattered most, and he stood firm in the effort that ultimately kept the mountain open and led to the removal of David Strang. Harry didn’t chase credit, he simply did the work, because it was the right thing to do. That was Harry at his core."

Each summer, local and state Republicans gathered at his family home for the Bean Family Barbecue, where numerous candidates announced their intentions to seek elected office throughout the years.

When Bordes, who was elected mayor of Laconia in November, first considered entering the race — Bordes later announced his candidacy at the Bean barbecue — Bean encouraged him without hesitation, he said. 

“These moments stay with me, because they reflect the same qualities Harry brought to every part of his life: integrity, loyalty, humility, and a deep commitment to the people around him,” Bordes said. “I’ll always be grateful for his guidance, his friendship, and the example he set for all of us.” 

Local Republicans joined in mourning over the weekend, many of them publishing statements on social media.

“It is with deep sadness and profound respect that I acknowledge the passing of State Representative Harry Bean,” Bordes wrote. “Harry was not only a dedicated public servant, but a steady and principled presence whose impact on the Lakes Region will be felt for years to come.

“His passing leaves a significant void in our delegation, in our community, and in the hearts of those who worked alongside him. We have lost a colleague, a neighbor, and a friend,” Bordes continued. “But we also carry forward the legacy he leaves behind: one of service, civility, and a steadfast dedication to the public good.”

Rep. Steven Bogert (R-Laconia) said Bean was his friend for 20 years, and his guidance, as chair of the delegation, helped change Belknap County.

“Over the years, his leadership has driven our county to be better and better. A champion arm wrestler who used his platform to raise tens of thousands of dollars for charity, Harry was truly a philanthropist and a man of the people,” Bogert said. “I, too, pass my condolences to Priscilla, his family and friends. As a friend of Harry, and fellow representative I will miss him dearly.”

Priscilla is Bean's wife of 54 years.

Deputy Majority Floor Leader Rep. Juliet Harvey-Bolia (R-Tilton) said Bean was a true public servant who fought hard for Belknap County.

House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) remembered Bean as a dedicated representative of the Granite State.

Bean "has been a stalwart of Belknap County. First elected in 2018, Representative Bean served the New Hampshire House and the people of our state for eight years,” Osborne wrote Saturday. “I pass my condolences to his wife Priscilla, three children, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren,  friends, the Belknap Delegation, and all House colleagues.

“The Bean family has called Gilford home since 1842,” Osborne continued. “A true Granite Stater, Representative Bean cared deeply for our veterans. Representative Bean always put his constituents in Gilford, Gilmanton and Laconia first, and I will always remember attending his Bean Family Barbecues during the summer. I once again send my condolences to his entire family, and all of his House colleagues.”