Harold R. Tavares, age 77, passed away peacefully at Sawtelle Hospice House in Reading on Monday, June 29, with his loving family by his side. He was the devoted husband of Carolyn Cusolito-Tavares, with whom he shared over 45 wonderful years of marriage.

Born in Tucson, Arizona, on May 13, 1949, he was the eldest of five children of Eugene R. and Mahalia (Williams) Tavares. Harold’s early childhood years were spent in Tucson, enjoying time with his maternal grandparents and great aunt. He particularly enjoyed spending time in the University of Arizona kitchens with his grandfather, who was a chef for the athletic program. Harold's family moved frequently throughout his teen years due to his father's military service. He graduated from Lakenheath High School in England before returning to the United States to earn his bachelor's degree from Howard University.

Following his education, Harold worked briefly for Prudential before diving headfirst into a career in marketing. He spent 20 years with Honeywell before concluding his career after another 20 years with Raytheon. Harold was gifted, gregarious, and kind-hearted to his core, qualities that helped him excel as a marketing manager for both companies. Through his work in defense contracting, he traveled extensively around the world, visiting places such as Egypt, countries throughout Europe and the Middle East, and even Taiwan.

When Harold wasn't working, he was an endlessly devoted husband and proud father. He was a constant source of encouragement and support throughout the years, never missing a sporting event, school function, or important milestone in his daughter's life. To Harold, being his loved ones' biggest supporter was what mattered most. His greatest pride came from watching his daughter succeed and accomplish everything she set her mind to.

In his free time, Harold loved both listening to and playing music. Whether he was enjoying his favorite groups, including Tavares, or creating mix CDs for friends and family, there was always music playing nearby. He also cherished spending time with his lifelong friends, Ron Via and Bob Simmons. Whether they were taking rides in Ron's antique car, going out to eat, or spending a day fishing together, those moments were always special. If he wasn't listening to music or spending time with friends, Harold was likely catching up on Boston sports. A dedicated fan of all the local teams, he rarely missed an opportunity to watch a game, and was often found wearing clothing from his favorite teams.

Above all else, Harold was a loving, hardworking, and dedicated man who always put his family first. He will be remembered for his unwavering support, warm personality, and remarkable ability to connect with and genuinely care for those around him. His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Along with his beloved wife, Carolyn, Harold is survived by his cherished daughter, Lauren Tavares of Jamaica Plain; his loving siblings, LeRoy Tavares and his wife Ruth of Austin, TX, Viana Tavares-Fischer of Tampa, FL, Felecia Tavares and her husband Loren Anderson of Tucson, AZ, and Cynthia Tavares, who predeceased Harold in September 1985, as well as three loving nieces and many other dear relatives and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Friday, July 10th from 11:00 am until 12:30 pm at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington. His Funeral Service will be held in the Funeral Home at 12:30 pm.  As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in Harold’s honor may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Fund at the HealthWell Foundation to support patients in need of medication assistance.