Obituary for Henri Joseph Agnese
Henri Joseph Agnese, 85, died March 27, 2020 in Ellsworth. He was born April 30, 1934 in Bar Harbor, the son of Joseph Louis and Anna Marie (Wetzel) Agnese.
Henri graduated in 1952 from Gould Academy in Bethel. In that year Gould was either 2 or 4 thousand dollars a year. He said he ate more than that. He played football, baseball and basketball. Recruited for athletics, he attended Duke University, North Carolina for one year, before finding his master hairdresser calling. In September 1954, Henri married his longtime sweetheart Jacqueline Frances Hodgkins and they launched into a rare love story, partnering in love and in business.
That same year, following in the footsteps of his father, a former top Parisian hairdresser, Henri went to beautician school in Florida. His new bride followed him, obtaining her own beautician license. They spent two years in Washington D.C. and then off to Maine where they bought a house in Northeast Harbor. That summer her father, Milton Hodgkins and crew turned the first floor into a beauty salon and the upstairs a small apartment. While the men were working on their house, they went to Palm Beach and worked. After 10 years of going back and forth they decided in 1968 to make Northeast Harbor their home. At that time their third child, Roger was school age. Their two girls, Cheryl and Michelle had no problem with starting school in Sept. and taking them out in November and then out again in Florida in May to finish in Northeast. Harbor. They continued to operate their hair salon until retiring at age 70, much to the dismay of his loyal clients.
Henri had many other talents - a gifted golfer, card player, conversationalist and digger of landscaping holes. Henri and his wife loved to dance, and, in those days, there were two dances a week to attend. They played a lot of cards with family and friends and then every Thursday night was Poker night. He was on boards and supported countless school and community committees. They spent many years cross country skiing and hiking in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, and went on many trips near and far. They went on three two-week River Cruises, France, Italy and Germany. He and Jackie spent some very memorable fly-fishing times both at Kidney Pond and Red River Camps and decades of summers at their second home “Fern Cove" on Long Pond. Jackie said, "I'm sure Henri's friends are saying, "What took you so long, we’ve been waiting for you to play golf, poker and cribbage with us!”
Henri is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jackie; 2 daughters Cheryl Agnese of Camden and Michelle Agnese of Tremont; a son Roger Agnese and wife Terry of Freeport; 5 grandchildren - Anna Damon and Erik Hansen, Zachary Damon; Joshua Shelton and wife Meredith, Christopher Shelton and wife Courtney and Griffin Agnese; 6 great grandchildren, Henri and Holden Hansen, Thatcher and Eloise Shelton, Kellen and Kaden Shelton; a sister-in-law Allison Guidi; and several cousins.
Graveside Services will be held 1pm, Sat. Oct. 25, 2020 at Ledgelawn Cemetery, Bar Harbor with Rev. Stephen Muncie officiating.
Those who desire may make contributions in Henri's memory to the Acadia Wildlife Foundation, P.O. Box 207, Mt. Desert, 04660 or the Parish of St. Mary & St. Jude, P.O. Box 105, Northeast Harbor, 04662.
Arrangements by Jordan- Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mt. Desert. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfemald.com
Henri graduated in 1952 from Gould Academy in Bethel. In that year Gould was either 2 or 4 thousand dollars a year. He said he ate more than that. He played football, baseball and basketball. Recruited for athletics, he attended Duke University, North Carolina for one year, before finding his master hairdresser calling. In September 1954, Henri married his longtime sweetheart Jacqueline Frances Hodgkins and they launched into a rare love story, partnering in love and in business.
That same year, following in the footsteps of his father, a former top Parisian hairdresser, Henri went to beautician school in Florida. His new bride followed him, obtaining her own beautician license. They spent two years in Washington D.C. and then off to Maine where they bought a house in Northeast Harbor. That summer her father, Milton Hodgkins and crew turned the first floor into a beauty salon and the upstairs a small apartment. While the men were working on their house, they went to Palm Beach and worked. After 10 years of going back and forth they decided in 1968 to make Northeast Harbor their home. At that time their third child, Roger was school age. Their two girls, Cheryl and Michelle had no problem with starting school in Sept. and taking them out in November and then out again in Florida in May to finish in Northeast. Harbor. They continued to operate their hair salon until retiring at age 70, much to the dismay of his loyal clients.
Henri had many other talents - a gifted golfer, card player, conversationalist and digger of landscaping holes. Henri and his wife loved to dance, and, in those days, there were two dances a week to attend. They played a lot of cards with family and friends and then every Thursday night was Poker night. He was on boards and supported countless school and community committees. They spent many years cross country skiing and hiking in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, and went on many trips near and far. They went on three two-week River Cruises, France, Italy and Germany. He and Jackie spent some very memorable fly-fishing times both at Kidney Pond and Red River Camps and decades of summers at their second home “Fern Cove" on Long Pond. Jackie said, "I'm sure Henri's friends are saying, "What took you so long, we’ve been waiting for you to play golf, poker and cribbage with us!”
Henri is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jackie; 2 daughters Cheryl Agnese of Camden and Michelle Agnese of Tremont; a son Roger Agnese and wife Terry of Freeport; 5 grandchildren - Anna Damon and Erik Hansen, Zachary Damon; Joshua Shelton and wife Meredith, Christopher Shelton and wife Courtney and Griffin Agnese; 6 great grandchildren, Henri and Holden Hansen, Thatcher and Eloise Shelton, Kellen and Kaden Shelton; a sister-in-law Allison Guidi; and several cousins.
Graveside Services will be held 1pm, Sat. Oct. 25, 2020 at Ledgelawn Cemetery, Bar Harbor with Rev. Stephen Muncie officiating.
Those who desire may make contributions in Henri's memory to the Acadia Wildlife Foundation, P.O. Box 207, Mt. Desert, 04660 or the Parish of St. Mary & St. Jude, P.O. Box 105, Northeast Harbor, 04662.
Arrangements by Jordan- Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mt. Desert. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfemald.com