Harold Deal Safrit

Harold Deal Safrit died on April 18, 2018, at his residence. Deal was born in Sanford, NC, on December 31, 1949, to parents Harold Clifton Safrit and Agnes Aleta Deal. He moved to Salisbury in 1950 and--outside of 10 years nomadically wandering in Cullowhee, NC and Charlotte, NC--he lived in Salisbury in one of two homes his entire life. After graduating from Boyden High School in 1968 he attended both Western Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In 1978 he returned to Salisbury and moved to his home on South Fulton Street, where he engaged variously in childcare, newspaper carrying, and home repair; he eventually became a self-taught locksmith. He developed that vocation and became known as the premier industrial locksmith in Salisbury and Rowan County, opening a shop on West Innes St. When not working locks he dabbled in book selling by leasing space at a local used bookstore. In 1998 he made good on a life-long dream of owning his own bookstore. He (with help from his children and wife) founded and opened Literary Bookpost at 119 South Main Street. That shop, with its creaky door and dusty shelves, became the literary hub of Salisbury and surrounds; Deal filled the shelves with deep stock, often including entire collections of notable authors. The shop soon became a place for authors, writers, and lovers of all things literary to meet. The Bookpost and its three photogenic black cat mascots (Goethe, Oscar, and Dickens) often appeared in various local and state media. In 2009 Deal sold the shop, moved it across the street (to the current location of South Main Book Company), and managed it for several years before retiring in 2012. Deal then stayed home to begin many--and actually finish some--household projects. He also briefly wrote a book blog (Literary Outpost) and created and launched the Rowan Reading Rendezvous. He stayed at home surrounded by his books, music, newspapers, family, and pets until he reached the end of his life. Those who knew Deal know that he was sui generis, unapologetically direct, irreverent, a voracious reader, an excellent writer, and a lover of IPA beer, single-malt scotch, hats, Renaissance Festival, and walking. He was a supporter of all liberal causes and had a soft spot for animals. His hobbies pretty much began and ended with reading and writing, although gardening was occasionally mentioned; he was proud to say he had no television in his home for three decades. He had a wide grin, a tendency to let his hair grow wild, a sonorous and memorable voice, a distinctive gait, and an occasionally-vexing disregard for convention. Without a doubt, you always knew where Deal stood: he said what he meant, and he meant what he said. Deal is survived by his wife, Sheila Brownlow, whom he married in Edinburgh, Scotland, and children Charles (Charlotte) and Daphne (Ashton Pryor). He is also survived by four grandchildren (Margot May Pryor, Colin Safrit, Amélie Safrit Pryor, and Alistair Safrit), his brother Bobby (Linda), niece Lea Safrit, and cousins Julia Deal, JoAnne Safrit, Brent Safrit, and Ashley Safrit. He was predeceased by Jan Beyer Safrit. He leaves numerous friends and acquaintances in and around Salisbury, met through his various endeavors of locksmithing and bookselling. The family requests no visitors at this time. If you care to memorialize Deal, please do so in lieu of flowers by donating to the Rowan Literacy Council at http://www.rcliteracy.org/ or to Rowan Helping Ministries http://www.rowanhelpingministries.org/. A celebration of Deal’s life will held at a later date. In the meantime, please lift your next glass in his honor. “It’s closing time” --Leonard Cohen Deal’s family is grateful to those who provided him with excellent care: Dr. Momen Wahidi and his staff of Duke University Hospital, Rowan Hospice and Palliative Care, and Dr. Chet Amin and his wonderful staff at Piedmont Family Medicine. Summersett Funeral Home is honored to serve the Safrit family at this time. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Harold Deal Safrit

December 31, 1949 - April 18, 2018