Joseph Harry Calixte was born on January 14, 1959 in Ranquitte, Haiti. Our beloved Harry transitioned on March 8, 2021 in Cap Haitian at the age of 62.

He is the loving son of Anne Marie (Pierre) Calixte and the late Augustin Calixte. Harry was the sixth of their eleven children, and was affectionately known as Toto. Family held an important place in his heart. He was a devoted father to Hardine, Haisha, Marvin and Mike Calixte. He was especially attentive to his mother, Manmie Anne. His brothers and sisters describe him as a great man filled with goodness. He knew how to bring them joy by sharing fond memories of their childhood. With Harry, even strangers felt like family. His actions showed compassion and understanding towards family, friends, and colleagues, especially to those in need. He was genuine and an example to all.

Harry attended both primary and secondary school at Collège Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours, in Cap-Haitian. While in school, Harry loved history, architecture, and the arts. These led him to develop a fondness for Photography and Videography. He was self-taught, learned from books, and over time developed his own techniques. His camera followed him to every event. He took countless pictures of his peers, family, and the community. He captured the glitter in their eyes, their smile, and their personality.

Entrepreneurship came naturally to him. He followed his passion and opened the doors of HPVS (Harry Photo Vidéo Studio), his first photo studio in 1992. The studio included a dark room and a storefront of materials for photography. HPVS was an institution shared by all in the northern provinces of Haiti. His success was not his only, as he was a philanthropist and supported many with their education. Harry will mostly be remembered for his gift of time, as many launched their own career in photography because of his mentorship.

Word of Harry’s photography went beyond Cap Haitian. People from surrounding cities traveled far to be photographed by Harry. His talent led him to have contracts with institutions such as l’école Régina Assumpta, Saint Joseph de Cluny, Spirit Airlines, the American Embassy, and the French Embassy. These organizations appreciated his respectful demeanor, his patriotic vision, and humanistic spirit. Through his lenses, people and the world around him gained an added vibrancy.

Harry lived a quiet, honest, passionate, and giving life. His legacy lives through the photographs and the sweet memories he left us. Moreover, he showed us that love, kindness, and tenderness are some of life’s greatest gifts. He lived with gratitude and saw the bright side of life.

He will be greatly missed by his dear brothers and sisters Faidherbe, Carol, Oenone, Jocelyne, Pierre Michel, Myriam, and Olive Armide. His countless nephews, nieces and cousins will miss his loving ways. The world will miss his altruism and humanism. In the words of his sister, he lived a good life at all levels – he showed up in the world knowing how to live, through his words, his deeds and his lenses.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Angela’s Church, 1540 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 9 AM.

Interment St. Michael Cemetery, Boston, MA.