Henry Parker Hirschel

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of former employee Henry Parker Hirschel on September 12, 2025. He was 78.

Henry grew up in Boston and graduated from Boston Latin School in 1966, and attended the University of Massachusetts (UMASS) at Amherst, graduating with the class of 1970.

During the National Science Foundation’s Operation Deepfreeze 73, he worked for six months as a field assistant at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Returning from Antarctica, he settled on Cape Cod.

Henry began his career at WHOI in 1977 as an able-bodied seaman aboard the R/V Oceanus.  He was promoted several times throughout his career and left in 1984 as a first mate aboard the Oceanus.

In 1984, he joined the Steamship Authority, sailing as a first-class pilot aboard their last actual steam-propelled ship and later as Captain of the Motor Vessel Martha’s Vineyard until his retirement at age 62.

After re-settling in Deerfield, MA, he became a part-time instructor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Amherst College, where, during the five-week interterm sessions from 2007 through 2018, he taught celestial navigation. Henry was well known in the Amherst community, where he was a frequent member of the ‘Amherst Coffee Shop Crew.’

Henry was a man of dignity and moral integrity with a wonderful sense of humor, a thirst for knowledge, and a passion for exploration. He was also a quiet and unassuming philanthropist, contributing generously to Amherst College and to UMASS Stockbridge School of Agriculture in addition to frequent and often anonymous contributions to various individuals in the Amherst community.

He is pre-deceased by his parents, Henri and Marian (Parker) of Westwood, MA, and his sister Denise of Beacon Hill, Boston. He leaves his life partner of 28 years, Janeen Quintal, her six sisters, and their multiple children and grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will take place in Amherst at a later date. In memory of Henry, please consider contributing to the ALS Association.

Information for this obituary is from the Legacy website