Robert Ludlow Harding, Jr. died peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 7, at his home in Port Washington. He was born on Nov. 1, 1936 to Robert L. Harding, Sr. and Elaine Elder Harding. He grew up in Plandome and was educated at Buckley Country Day School, The Lawrenceville School and Dartmouth College. He lived in California and worked in the financial industry for five years after college. It was at this time that he met his wife, Jane. Moving back to New York, he went into the real estate industry and settled in Port Washington.
In 1973, he founded Harding Real Estate and, a few years later, RLH Management. He put an enormous amount of hard work into his companies and they were justifiably a source of great pride to him. They have been highly successful and are still going strong, under the management of his sons and colleagues. When he allowed himself time off, he loved to relax with his family and friends in his lakefront house in New Hampshire.
Harding has been a strong and consistent supporter of Port Washington and its institutions. A partial list of his contributions must include his being a major contributor to the Community Chest and a member of its board for more than 30 years; that he has been a major contributor to the Landmark on Main Street; and that he was active in the Port Washington Teen Center and the principal contributor to the Teen Summer Show.
He was a major contributor to the Port Washington Children’s Center; in his 17-year association with the Cub and Boy Scouts, he served as a Webelo leader, Boy Scout committee chairman and Scout master; he had served as copresident of the Manhasset and Port Washington Real Estate Board; he has been a member of the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce since 1974; has acted as associate trustee of North Shore Hospital; has been a director and director emeritus of the Port Washington Library Foundation Board; hosted a Fresh Air Child for several summers; and outside Port Washington, he established scholarships at both Quinnipiac University and Susquehanna University.
His support has been recognized by numerous honors and awards. He was proudest of those which recognized him and his wife together: Among these, the Landmark honored them at the gala in 2006, and they were jointly given the Citizen of the Year Award by the Community Chest of Port Washington. For his efforts on behalf of the Children’s Center, he has been honored by having a playground named after him.
He was married to his beloved wife, Jane Williams Harding, for 53 years. In addition to her, he is survived by his children, Scott (Natalie) Harding, Brent (Meghan) Harding and Stacey Hughes; his grandchildren, Allison, Kyle, Ryan, MaryJane, Riley and Grace; and his sister, Katherine Wunder. They, and his many friends, will sorely miss him.
