Harold Weichert died May 31.

Born on Nov. 8, 1929 to Grace and Arnold Weichert in Syracuse, N.Y., Harold attended John T. Roberts grade school and Central High School in Syracuse. He completed his undergraduate studies at Syracuse University.

After college, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he received pilot training as well as extensive training in Russian at the U.S. Air Force Language School, where he became fluent in Russian.

After leaving the Air Force, Harold used his language skills at the Central Intelligence Agency, but was shortly thereafter accepted into medical school and attended Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. He completed his internship in straight surgery at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn.

After internship, he completed residency in orthopedic surgery at Yale-New Haven hospital. In 1967, he entered into practice with Dr. Mark Harwood in Syracuse, N.Y. Over the years, their practice became more widely known as University Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, and then Syracuse Orthopedics Specialist.

Harold was chief of orthopedics at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse for many years, and was respected widely among his peers.

In the midst of his professional achievements, he managed to find the time and energy to become a fine furniture craftsman, a master carpenter, heavy equipment operator, speed reader, skilled wing shot, expert rifleman, dog trainer, expert witness, seasoned farmer, stealthy hunter, auto mechanic, naturalist, bird watcher, mushroom hunter, crafty fisherman, seafarer, sage storyteller, comedian, light-footed dancer, caregiver to his elderly or homebound patients, and friend to men and women from all walks of life.

In 1975, under the architectural guidance of Roland Kluver, he began construction of his summer home at Spring Point in Chilmark. Harold completed the home himself, with the help of his four young children, Jim and Bart Thorpe, and several patients who were proficient tradesmen. It was a project that typified his self-made life, in a place that he so loved.

Harold, like all men, faced many problems in his life - and had a solution for each one.

Survivors include his wife Carol; his daughter Regina; his sons Robert and Cyrus; and his younger brother Bob.

To his great sorrow, his son William died in 1996. His sister Elaine died shortly thereafter.