Harry Lafontaine was the founder of the Biomass
Energy Foundation.
Harry built gasifiers during World War II as a
cover for his nighttime activities in the Danish Underground.
When the "energy crisis" struck in 1974, Harry was
happy to give lectures and demonstrations on gasification in
many universities around the East.
In 1982 he set up a 501-3-C (not for profit)
foundation for his activies in biomass. I met Harry in
1985 and he invited me to be a member of his board of directors.
At that time I began to publish books at the Biomass Energy
Foundation.
In 1994 Harry died (at age 80) and left the BEF
to me, Dr. Thomas Reed to continue its purposes. I use it
in my research, consulting, publishing and travel activities in
the field of biomass. We are able and willing to sponsor
projects related to these purposes.
Harry was born in Denmark as Harry Jensen, in 1917.
Harry first learned about biomass energy in Denmark during World
War II. He operated a factory to make gasifiers in the daytime
to cover his activities in the Danish Underground at night.
Harry was very active in the Danish Underground and played a
major role in evacuating 8,000 Jews to Sweden in 1944.
Harry loved to tell stories about the Danish Underground, but
never about his specific position. He said only that at the end
of the war all the members took collective responsibility for
the good and bad things they did. Over the last few years as I
have heard more and more details only known to planners of
operations. I am sure he was quite high up. Maybe they
would be willing to tell more about his activities now that
fifty years have passed.
Harry came to the U. S. from Denmark in the 1950s and taught
Television Programming at the University of Houston. Because of
his wartime experiences he was in charge of special effects for
all the James Bond movies. He was a born entrepreneur and
directed dozens of businesses in his long life.
Harry brought his gasifier experience to the U.S. in the
1974-1994 period with a great deal of work in gasifiers. In the
period 1976-80 he operated a Lincoln stretch limousine on wood
gas for the U. S. Department of Energy. (See the article
about Harry published in American Way magazine.) He and his wife, Edie,
traveled to dozens of Colleges and Universities in this car,
lecturing on gasifiers.
He helped write "The Pegasus Unit: The Lost Art of
Driving Without Gasoline" and wrote
"Construction of a Simplified Wood Gas Generator for
Fueling Internal Combustion Engines in a Petroleum
Emergency" for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
He gave a number of his gasifiers to Wayne Smith at the
University of Florida at Gainesville. Most recently he
worked with Tom Reed at the University of Colorado on
wood-gas stoves for third world countries. All who knew Harry
will miss him and his contributions to biomass.
Harry was president and CEO of the Biomass Energy Foundation
(501 c 3, not for profit). Harry died in April, 1994. Tom Reed has taken over operation of the Foundation.
Letter to Harry's Wife, Edie LaFontaine
April, 1994
Vivian and I were deeply saddened to hear of Harry�s death
and we are still readjusting our lives to patch the hole he
leaves. I will be passing on wisdom received from Harry to my
children and grandchildren and. .... I have a lot of audio tapes
of Harry�s stories and a few video tapes. We only know
the depths of our regrets when it is too late.
We have a wonderful video sequence at breakfast one day when
he told about his experiences in the Danish training ship - and
then you told about your early days before meeting Harry. We
have another of Harry demonstrating that he could vacuum a cat
and that the cat would love it. (She didn�t!)
This letter could easily go on for many pages with my
memories of Harry, but I will try to keep it short, knowing you
will have many letters to read and affairs to arrange. We can
talk more leisurely later.
Again, let me say how we will all miss Harry.
Your sorrowful friends,
Tom and Vivian Reed