Harry Martin Will

Founder of general and prime mechanical construction firm was a dynamic, ever-present figure throughout the Baltimore building and construction trade organizations. Harry M. Will, P.E., an iconic and ever-present denizen in the Baltimore construction industry, died of multiple myeloma on June 26 at Talbot Hospice in Easton, MD. The former Lutherville resident was 86 and had retired to Easton after a lifelong career in Baltimore. Harry Martin Will was born in Baltimore and raised on Denison Street. He was the son of Harry M. Will Sr., one of the first registered Baltimore City architects, and Anna Elizabeth Becker Will, a homemaker. He was a 1949 graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Advanced College Preparatory Course, and took surveying and civil engineering courses through the International Correspondence Schools while working as a surveyor for the old State Roads Commission. Mr. Will enlisted in the Army in 1951, and was a graduate of the Army Engineer Officers Candidate School, where he attained the rank of first lieutenant and served two years on active duty. He remained a reservist until 1956. He attended the Whiting School of Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University at night, and graduated with honors in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He later returned to Hopkins and obtained a master’s degree in liberal arts, again with honors, in 1971. Additionally, he held master plumber, master gas fitter, HVAC and general construction licenses. After leaving active duty in 1953, he went to work for Ingleside Contractors of Maryland Inc., where he rose to executive vice president. He brought to the firm his knowledge of general and mechanical construction including plumbing, steam fitting, refrigeration, sheet metal, heavy steel fabrication, utilities, fire protection and pipe fabrication. He founded his own company, Harry M. Will, Inc., in 1978. During its 25 years of operation, the firm completed projects in the Baltimore metropolitan area for numerous private, city, state, and federal clients, including 28 hospital facilities, 35 educational and religious facilities, 29 industrial and commercial facilities, and 43 governmental facilities. Notably, the firm performed both general and mechanical trades with its skilled employees. Mr. Will contributed much time and effort to building and trade associations where he served on numerous Boards in multiple committee positions including president in most cases. These include the Building Congress and Exchange of Metropolitan Baltimore, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Engineering Society of Baltimore (ESB), Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Johns Hopkins University Alumni Associations. His colleagues remember him for his boundless energy, leadership, can-do attitude, optimism, red hair, and wonderful sense of humor – he always had a joke on tap. Mr. Will’s dedication and contributions to the construction community were recognized with countless awards for excellence, craftsmanship, and distinguished service from organizations including the Small Business Administration, ABC, Baltimore Building Congress & Exchange, ASHRAE and ESB. He retired in 2003, but continued working as a consultant for several years. From 1965 until 1983, he lived in a home he and his father had designed and built in Ellicott City, then he moved to Lutherville and since 1998 has been an Easton resident. A former Boy Scout, he was scoutmaster of Clarksville Boy Scout Troop 737 for seven years. He enjoyed collecting domestic stamps throughout his life and was a prolific correspondent, hand-writing hundreds of thoughtful notes and letters. Even greeting cards would be filled with his personal sentiments written in his very precise letter-script using pen and ink. Mr. Will also collected coins and was a voracious reader of Civil War and World War II histories, curating an impressive library on these subjects and more. Additionally, he was an amateur photographer, art buff, and coin collector. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors at a date to be determined. Plans for services are incomplete. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, the former Janet Briggs; two sons, Carl Will of Woodbine, Gary Will of Gold Canyon, AZ.; two daughters, Brenda Will Kidera of Woodbine and Laura Will of Baltimore; two stepsons, Eric “Denny” Stancliff of Westminster and Michael Stancliff of Las Vegas; six grandchildren; and eight grandchildren. Another stepson, Frank Stancliff, died in 2008. An earlier marriage to the former Helen Waggoner ended in divorce. Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Will’s honor to Talbot Hospice, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601.

Harry Martin Will

August 9, 1931 - June 26, 2018