Father Michael J. Burns, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Bordentown, was principal celebrant of a Mass of Christian Burial Dec. 15 in St. Mary Church for Deacon Harry A. Putnam, who died Dec. 11 in Samaritan Hospice, Mount Holly. He was 81.

Born in Worcester, Mass., Deacon Putnam had resided in Bordentown with his family since 1968. He served in the U.S. Army for 22 years, including tours in Panama, Japan, Korea and Germany. He was a member of the 24th Infantry Division in Japan in 1950, and upon the outbreak of the Korean War was among the first units sent there, where he served from 1950 to 1951.

He was a member of “Operation Gold,” a successful CIA project in Berlin, Germany, from 1954 to 1955.

Deacon Putnam retired in 1968 and was the administrator/instructor for the Junior ROTC Program at Bordentown Military Institute. While there, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Trenton State College in 1972.

Deacon Putnam taught in the Clara Barton School from 1972 to 1978. After earning a master’s degree in education and supervision from Rider College, Lawrenceville, he became the assistant principal at the Beverly Elementary School and subsequently the administrator of the Stockton Elementary School, Stockton.

In 1984, he joined the N.J. Department of Corrections as an assistant supervisor of education programs, serving in Southern State Correctional Facility, the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women at Clinton, and the Garden State Reception and Youth Correctional Facility until his retirement in 1993.

Deacon Putnam was ordained a deacon May 13, 1995 by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and served in St. Mary Parish until his retirement in 2009.

He was a member of the American Legion Post in Bordentown; past grand knight of Bordentown Council, Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Bishop Ahr Assembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and a volunteer at McGuire Air Force Base Pharmacy.

Deacon Putnam is survived by his wife, Anne S. Putnam; two daughters and sons-in-law, Dr. Elizabeth A. Putnam and Dr. Mark A. Pershouse of Missouloa, Mont., and Daria K. Putnam-Steinhardt and James J. Steinhardt of Frederick, Md.; a son and daughter-in-law, John W. and Patricia S. Putnam of Exton, Pa.; seven grandchildren; several sisters and brothers-in-law; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Burial was in St. Mary Parish Cemetery, Bordentown.

Memorial donations may be made to the Samaritan Hospice, samaritanhopsice.org or St. Mary Parish, 45 Crosswicks St., Bordentown, N.J. 08505.