Dr. J. Bradley Harrison, 92, of Huntsville, passed away Sunday at home following a long illness.
A descendant of the first Harrisons who arrived in the Virginia Colony in 1640, Brad was born to Marvin Clinton Harrison and Clara Rockow Harrison, both of Cleveland, Ohio. Marvin Harrison was a prominent Cleveland lawyer as well as an Ohio State Senator and president of the Ohio Urban League. Clara was nationally ranked table tennis player and member of the United States team that went to Europe for the 1938 International Championship. Brad, their only child, was an excellent table tennis player in his youth.
Dr. Harrison was a graduate of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio and received his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois in 1952. During his career, he worked as a research chemist for the E.I. DuPont Company in Wilmington, DE, and as a plant manager for both Hooker Chemical in Niagara Falls, NY, and Occidental Petroleum in Hicksville, NY.
Brad was an active member of several community organizations. He was a 50-year-member of Rotary International, served as Rotary president of both the Niagara Falls, NY and Freeport, NY Rotary Clubs, and was made a Paul Harris Fellow in 1988. Brad was president of the Niagara Falls Board of Education in the early 1970s, and was a past president of the Adult Learning Program in Hartford, CT where he also taught chemistry and computer classes. He was also a lifelong member of the American Chemical Society and had a chemical consulting business after retirement where he specialized on issues dealing with OSHA compliance and industrial waste management.
Brad was a loving and devoted husband to his sweetheart of 70 years, Lucia D’Addeo Harrison of Bloomfield, CT. In addition, Brad is survived by six of his seven children: Michael Harrison (Lucille) of Lititz, PA; Anthony Harrison (Anna) of Woodbridge, VA; Joseph Harrison (Lecie) of Decatur, GA; Andrea Harrison Still (Tony) of Huntsville; Peter Harrison of Huntsville and John Harrison (Renwick Bullock) of Brooklyn, NY. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren: Joseph Harrison (Vik-Thor Rose) of Florissant, MO; Jenna Harrison of Lititz, PA; Nicole Newman (Spencer) of Falls Church, VA and daughter Effie; Tony Still Jr. (Karen) of Huntsville, AL and children Emily, Wyatt and Eliza; Benjamin Still (Ashley) of Huntsville, AL and children Chloe and Jackson; Dana Harrison of Atlanta, GA; Casey Still (Lauren) of Huntsville, AL and children Avery, Porter and Owen; Christopher Harrison of Atlanta, GA; Elizabeth Harrison (Mitch Dunn) of Decatur, GA and son Oliver; and Frances Harrison of Wilmington, NC. Brad was pre-deceased in death by his parents and his oldest daughter, Gina Harrison Woyt and her husband, Gerry Woyt.
Brad was a very intelligent and articulate man whose guiding principle at all times was “Is it kind? Is it true?” He never had an unkind word to say about anyone and was relentlessly upbeat. Despite health struggles in recent years, every day to him was “wonderful!” He loved camping, fishing, reading, chess, and German food, and was known among his grandkids for kite building and science experiments. Most of all, Brad set an example for the rest of the family in how much he loved his wife, Lucia. He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word and will be missed by all.
The family wishes to thank his excellent caregivers for their compassionate care: Mrs. Sharon Rice and Mr. Kelvin Bailey. They also thank Hospice Services of North Alabama.
Laughlin Service Funeral Home is handling arrangements. There will be no local service; Brad’s funeral will be held at a later date at Sacred Heart Church in Bloomfield, CT with burial to follow.
