Henry B. Coleman — Nantucketer
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WITH THE DEATH of Henry B. Coleman on April 15, 1979, Nan tucket lost one of those sons who may truly be known as a "Nantucketer." Born on this island, March 15, 1901, the son of Wallace L. and Carrie E. (Brown) Coleman, he was associated with community affairs all of his long life. The wide range of his activities was the best indication of the variety of his interests. It was not so much the fact that he belonged to these numerous organizations; it was that he contributed in his own way to each of them. Such interest and devotion to the duties involved brought to him loyal friends, and he commanded the respect of all his fellow workers throughout his career. Following his graduation from the Nantucket High School in 1919, he completed a course at the Mount Hermon School. He then became associated with the national Y.M.C.A., accepting a position at Lawrence, Mass. But the pull of his island home soon brought him back to Nantucket, where he readily found employment. It was in 1931 that he entered into partnership with Dr. Charles E. Congdon in the real estate and insurance business that is still conducted under the name of Congdon & Coleman. He still found time to conduct a physical education course for the Nantucket schools. With the advent of World War II he accepted the director's post for the Civilian Defense, serving as secretary of the Board of Selectmen, as well, but resigned when he entered the U.S. Army in 1942.
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In the years following the war's end, he was called upon to help in several organizations. When the Nantucket Rotary Club was formed in 1951 he became its first President. He served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Nantucket Hospital from 1954 through 1956, and his good judgment was utilized in such organizations as the American Legion, the Sherburne Chapter, O.E.S., the Thomas Turner Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution, the Nantucket Pacific Club. He was one of the founders of the Nantucket Historical Trust, and served as President of the Nan tucket Foundation and the Nantucket Civic League, and only recently retired as the President of the Nantucket Atheneum. For many years he was the Senior Deacon at St. Paul's Church, and was a past Junior Deacon of Union Lodge, F.&A.M. His interests in cluded membership in the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, and the Maria Mitchell Association, and he was a Director of the Nantucket Electric Company and on the Board of the Nantucket Institution For Savings. Many community organizations sought his help, and he always
