Obituary: Henry Huse, 96, Of Norwalk

Information via Magner Funeral Home

Henry Huse, known to his friends and family as “Captain Action” during his long, adventurous and productive life, died in his sleep at his home in Norwalk, Connecticut, on November 12, 2022.

Henry was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on January 18, 1926, and lived there and in France with his parents and sister Lia during his youth. His father Howard Russell Huse was a professor of Classics at University of North Carolina and his mother Charlotta (Vulliemoz) Huse taught French.

Henry graduated high school at 17 and enlisted in the US Navy during World War II, where he rose to the rank of Ensign. He saw duty aboard the cruiser USS Canberra in the Pacific Theater. After the war he earned a degree in mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University and was also captain of the swim team. Henry traveled the world working as an engineer/salesman for Goodyear and spent two years hopping the 3,000-mile length of Indonesia in small planes dealing with oil drillers.

He returned to work in the New York office in Manhattan where he met Jessica Poole of Norwalk, CT and they soon wed. Henry spent 67 happy years with Jess, residing in Norwalk CT, Waukesha WI, and Darien CT. He returned to Norwalk again to live out his last 16 years by the water.

Henry and Jess raised two children, Trudy Huse Hodenfield of Norwalk, CT and Robert Howard Huse (Jane) of Wilmington, NC, who along with his wife, survive him. Henry was also a beloved grandfather to six grandchildren who survive him: Katherine Huse Karlsen (Për), Richard Mawhood Huse (Shea), William Robert Huse, all of Wilmington NC; Margot Lena Martin (Adonis), Renée Claire Hodenfield, of Oakland CA and Julia Rae Hodenfield, of Stamford CT. He is also survived by a great granddaughter Coast Kai Huse and two step great grandchildren Bailey and Reece Karlsen who reside In Wilmington, NC. Henry is also survived by three nephews and their families in Chicago IL.

After working for Bridgeport Brass & Nash Engineering, Henry would strike out on his own in 1970, founding a Norwalk-based Atlantic Fluidics, Inc. a company manufacturing industrial vacuum pumps and compressors based on his patented designs. It was highly successful operation that employed up to 30 people.

After selling his company in 2000, he founded Energy Conservation Tec, a company devoted to energy related research and product development. He self-published a book "Dangers From Above" about pollution caused by jet emissions and kept a blog: energyconservationtech.blogspot.com.

In Norwalk, Henry was widely known for his many friendships, his concerns over the environment, his passion for sailing and tennis and love for animals. He was as founding member of the Roton Point club, sailed out of the Norwalk Yacht Club on his 36’ Apache named Snow Goose, and was a long-time member of Norwalk Land Trust. His final house, which he helped design, is a monument to his interest in solar power, along with his treasured 100+ year-old boathouse where he worked on his inventions, hosted Land Trust meetings and with Jessica threw large, wonderful parties.

A Memorial Celebration is planned for the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to Norwalk Land Trust (norwalklandtrust.org).