Old Town teacher dies while skiing

BREWER – A local educator and author died Wednesday night while cross-country skiing in Brewer.

The body of Robert Harnum, 57, of Brewer was discovered by someone walking a dog along a snowmobile trail by the city’s airport, Brewer Detective Sgt. Jay Munson said Thursday.

Authorities were called to the airport shortly after 6 p.m. and stayed for several hours as part of the investigation. Munson said the death doesn’t appear suspicious, although police are awaiting a cause-of-death determination by the state medical examiner’s office.

Harnum had been a schoolteacher in the Bangor area, including in Brewer, and started this past school year as a part-time French teacher at Old Town High School.

Principal Joe Gallant said that, despite the short time Harnum had been at the school, he had left a good impression on his students.

“He’s going to be missed,” Gallant said Thursday.

To help students and staff deal with the loss, counselors will be made available today or Monday should school be canceled because of snow, Old Town Superintendent Matthew Oliver said. The plan was developed by a crisis intervention team that met Thursday at the school.

When school resumes, teachers are to tell students in homeroom about Harnum’s death, and counselors will be present in classes Harnum taught, Gallant said. Counselors also will be available to answer any questions students might have.

Harnum wrote a novel titled “Exile in the Kingdom” about an honor student and athletic all-star whose life takes a bizarre turn.