PORTLAND – Harold O. “Hal” Buzzell, 75, of Waterville died Wednesday, March 7, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, with his children and devoted wife at his side.

He was born in Oakland on Feb. 14, 1932, to the late Harold and Emily (Rossignol) Buzzell.

Formerly of Frederick, Md., he was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman and hiked the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail at age 62.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

He graduated from the University of Maine and had several successful careers, including assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, president of the Health Industry Manufacturers Association, Washington, D.C., and later as a dairy farmer and store owner in Mt. Airy, Md. After retiring, he worked as a courier.

Harold is survived by his wife, Janet Coughlin Buzzell of Waterville; two brothers, Harvey Buzzell of Grand Junction, Colo. and Robert Buzzell of Oakland; a sister, Cynthia Buzzell of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; stepmother, Barbara Buzzell of Dixfield; stepbrother, Wayne Buzzell of Wilton; stepsisters, Joyce Pfoh of Sebago and Julie Hall of Dixfield; five children, David Buzzell of Middletown, Md., Debra Buzzell Gritt of Watertown, Conn., Mark Buzzell of Hendersonville, N.C., and Sarah and Meghan Buzzell of Frederick, Md.

He also leaves nine devoted grandchildren, Randy Stockbridge, Caitlin Gritt, Emily Buzzell, Kerianne Gritt, Bethany Buzzell, Zachary Buzzell, Patrick Gritt, Patrick Rollman and Jayda Simms; stepson, Michael Coughlin; grandsons, David and Philip Coughlin; and great-grandson, Pierce Joseph Coughlin.

He was predeceased by another beloved son, Randy.