Harold L. Damiano, 77

Dec. 26, 1936 - Dec. 18, 2014

Harold L. Damiano, 77, a longtime former resident of Coeur d'Alene, lost his battle with lymphoma and went home to be with the Lord on Dec. 18, 2014.

Hal grew up in Kellogg,where he was a star athlete, scholar, student body leader, and member of the 1955 State Champion basketball team. He was offered an athletic scholarship to play for the University of Idaho in Moscow, where he then met the love of his life, Katherine Ann Graves of Boise.

Armed with his degree in finance, Hal married Katherine on Aug. 8, 1959, and promptly moved to New York for a two-year executive training program with Merrill Lynch. Their next move was to Palo Alto, Calif., for a five-year stint as a Financial Consultant, but a yearning for small town living and to be closer to family called the young couple back to Idaho.

Hal and Katherine settled in Coeur d'Alene with their three children, and at 29 years old Hal purchased his first business: The Eddyville Lodge lake resort. Over the ensuing years, Hal bought 28 businesses, including Stoddard Transfer, CDA Garbage, and MOR Manufacturing (with his business partner of over 30 years, W.T. Richards), co-founded Northern State Bank and founded both Recycling Associates and the CDA Athletic Club. He served on the Board of Directors for Washington Trust Bank, Arizona Transformer (Chairman), and the North Idaho Symphony.

As well as a successful businessman, Hal was a man of faith. He attended CDA Bible Church (where he served as a Deacon and financial manager), founded and operated a ministry called S.O.S. at Camelback Christian Church in Phoenix, and gave generously to many charities and missions such as Youth For Christ and the Phoenix Rescue Mission. He also supported the arts as a major contributor to the North Idaho College Foundation, the CDA Summer Theater, and the North Idaho Symphony.

Hal was a member of Hayden Lake Country Club for 32 years (serving as President in 1986), and when he wasn't out on the course enjoying a game of golf with friends, you could find him competing in handball tournaments, fly fishing, hunting on his family homestead in Harrison, playing with his grandchildren or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. When he finally slowed down enough to semi-retire in Phoenix, Ariz., Hal and Katherine traveled the world by cruise ship. His favorite part: Regaling family and friends with his adventures in food!

Harold is survived by his wife of 55 years, Katherine; daughter Ann (54, Phoenix); daughter Kerry (53, Phoenix); son and daughter-in-law Phil and Leslie Damiano of Hayden Lake; five grandchildren (Kerry, 27; Shannon, 26; Gianinna, 21; Anya, 21; and Elizabeth, 15); three great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law Gary and Mary Damiano of Coeur d'Alene; brother and sister-in-law Dave and Nona Damiano of Mead, Wash.; brother-in-law and close friend Phil Graves of Peoria, Ill., and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life open house hosted by John and Joy Richards will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at the Coeur d'Alene Inn (506 W. Appleway Ave.) in Coeur d'Alene.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to either The Union Gospel Mission Women and Children's Center (www.uniongospelmission.org/center-for-women-and-children-in-coeur-dalene/) or the North Idaho College Foundation (www.nic.edu/foundation/).