Frederick Joseph Harris of Mystic, Connecticut, passed on Oct. 24, 2025. Fred was born Nov. 25, 1944, at Framingham Union Hospital to Frederick Everett and MaryRosa Camilla Harris.

A 1963 graduate of Hopkinton High School, Fred was a proud patriot who loved his country. Upon graduating from Maine Maritime Academy in 1967, Fred received a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserves. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Fred served on the SS Transglobe, the most decorated ship in the U.S. Merchant Marine fleet in that conflict. Fred went on to work for most of his career for General Dynamics, guarding the nation’s security by pouring his heart and soul into design and construction of the nation’s submarine fleet. Beginning at General Dynamics-Electric Boat as an engineer, he moved up into management, eventually going on to serve as president for General Dynamics–NASSCO and for General Dynamics–Bath Iron Works.

Fred was a devoted Roman Catholic who upheld a lifelong devotion to the rosary and was an active member of multiple parishes as his travels took him. Fred was a high school and university football standout, as well as an avid shooter, card player, amateur historian, scouting leader, craftsman and unrepentant trickster. Serving as assistant scoutmaster to Boy Scout Troop 42, Fred led numerous fundraising drives to ensure every boy in the troop who wanted to attend summer camp would be able to regardless of ability to pay. Fred also was extremely active in charity work, donating extensive time, money and other resources to not only Scouting but also the United Way, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Lupus Foundation of America and many other worthy causes.

Fred is survived by his wife, Peggy; daughter Meghan and life partner Rick LaFlamme and Meghan’s grandson, Ziah Camacho; and son Teddy and wife Meghan and their two daughters, Jillian and Allison. Fred also is survived by sister Elaine Larson, brother Albert Harris and wife Donna, brother-in-law David Foley and wife Martha, niece Kim McGee, nephews Doug Larson and Michael Foley and many other beloved family members, friends and colleagues. Fred is predeceased by his father, Fred, his mother, MaryRosa, brother-in-law Glenn (Elaine’s late husband) and Rick’s daughter, Nichole Laflamme.

It is impossible to summarize the life of Fred in a few paragraphs. He was a truly larger-than-life persona who will be dearly missed by all who had the great good fortune to cross his path.

His family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 3-7 p.m. at the Mystic Funeral Home located on Route 1 in Mystic, Connecticut.

The family also will receive relatives and friends on Monday, Nov. 3, from 3-6 p.m. at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, Hopkinton. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church, 20 Church Street, Hopkinton. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, 24 Mayhew Street, Hopkinton.

“His Master replied, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant! …. Come, share your Master’s joy.’ ” — Matthew 25:23

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.