John Richard Harris, Sr., 84, of Columbia, MD (formerly of Hollywood, MD) known to many as Richard or Dick, died December 12, 2016 at his home.
He was born on March 7, 1932 in Choteau, Montana. His parents, Hugh D. Harris and the former Retta M. Kirkpatrick, were homesteaders in Eastern Montana. His father‘s job with the Bureau of Reclamation, led the family to move frequently from one major project to another.
Dick entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1952 during the Korean Conflict. He served as a drill instructor and then was stationed at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. where he honed his skills in his favorite area, photography. There he met and wed the love of his life, the former Anna Laurah Mitchell of Morehead City, N.C.
After leaving the Marine Corps, the family, including John Jr. moved to Missoula, Montana where he completed his M.A in Photojournalism. Dick started a successful photographic business and he and Anna had their second child, David Bennitt Harris. The family moved to Seattle, WA, and Dick became the Director of Photography at the Seattle World’s Fair. Next, the family moved to Vista, CA where he taught Photojournalism. He again moved his family to Rochester, N.Y. where he joined the Rumrill Hoyt Advertising Agency as an Account Executive for Kodak Photographic products. The family moved with Rumrill Hoyt to the New York City area, living in Pleasantville while working in Manhattan. While there, Dick started his successful public relations and advertising agency where he worked until semi-retiring to Northern Virginia and finally retiring in Hollywood, Southern Maryland. He taught photography at Southern Maryland Community College.
Dick and Anna moved to Brighton Gardens Assisted Living where he succumbed to a long illness. In addition to his beloved wife, Anna Harris, he is also survived by his two sons and their wives, John Harris, Jr and Mary Harris and Dave Harris and Denise Harris; and his grandson that he always had a special place for in his heart, Mark Harris and his wife Ingrid.
Family will receive friends on Sunday, December 18, 2016 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., with a Memorial Service celebrated at 2:00 p.m., at Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Interment will be held at a later date at Arlington National Center, Arlington, VA.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311.
Condolences to the family may be made to www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
