Harold Seeley passed away at 6 a.m. on January 7, after a long, arduous battle with cancer, former Arts Project of Cherry Grove (APCG) President Michael Coffindaffer reported. Harold was in his early 70s.

Devoted to APCG for more than 35 years, Harold designed the elaborate, gilt proscenium for the Community House stage, using seashells from the Grove beach and props from many of the Grove shows, donated by some of their stars. With his background in design, he devised and built sets for many shows, notably for the annual Doctor’s Fund benefit, often using found, inexpensive, and saved materials to create something beautiful and memorable—his breathtaking carousel and circus cage come immediately to mind. He also designed the APCG calendar, filling it with archival photographs.

At an APCG tribute to Harold, at the Community House, on August 7, 2010, he was hailed as the heart of the theater and a “professional volunteer,” and entertained by many Grove performers, who also took into account Harold’s love of Disney and styled him “Cherry Grove’s Mouseketeer.”

As Archivist of Cherry Grove, Harold was guardian over numerous items of historic Arts Project and Grove interest, including albums of photos from the shows, taken by Lorraine Michels. Harold displayed selections of treasures from the Archives collection at the Community House in biannual Archives shows. As Archbishop of Cherry Grove, he participated in the House Blessing, which raises funds for worthy charitable Grove organizations, and gave his blessing to the annual Grove Invasion of the Pines, in which he also took part.
Harold ran for Miss Monster, when that disco, bar and restaurant flourished, and also ran for Grove Homecoming Queen, most recently in 2011, when, as ‘Miss Confused,’ he surprised APCG members by revealing black leather harness and jockstrap, as well as black fishnet stockings, beneath a glittery red gown.

In his email to Grovites about Harold’s passing, Michael noted, “The loss of a friend and a true champion of Cherry Grove is great ... Heaven, however, has a new set designer on the scene already planning decor for the next show and rolling up his sleeves ready to go.”

Harold, you were one of a kind and will truly be missed.