Tragedy near Polson
Prominent Missoula Couple Found Dead in Flathead Lake
By Flathead Beacon, 1-11-08
POLSON—The bodies of Missoula couple Hank and Nancy Harrington were pulled from the icy waters of Flathead Lake on Wednesday afternoon, near the south shore of Wildhorse Island. Hank Harrington was the former chair of the English Department at the University of Montana. His wife Nancy was the partner in the Boyle, Deveny & Meyer accounting firm. Lake County authorities have not yet released the names of the deceased, but friends and family of the Harringtons in Missoula said they were aware of what happened.
Lake County Sheriff Lucky Larson says the bodies were found after Polson authorities were called on to conduct a welfare check. Both were wearing life jackets. He wouldn’t say what prompted the check or who called it in.
The sheriff says a canoe was found near the bodies.
The bodies were taken to the state crime lab in Missoula for autopsies.
The Sheriff’s office also said two dogs in good health were found near the bodies, and belonged to the Harringtons.
Hank Harrington arrived at UM in 1971 as an assistant professor of English and chaired the department from 1987-92. He also taught in the Environmental Studies Department after retiring from the English Department.
Nancy Harrington was a semiretired partner at the accounting firm.
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I was certainly looking forward to many more years of volunteering at the Montana Natural History Center with Hank, and vicariously enjoying their adventures.
A damn shame...