Obituary of John H. Harris

John Howard Harris, 75, passed away on October 1^st at Hartford Hospital.  He was born on March 6, 1947, to John Harris and Irene (Scott) Harris in Hartford, CT. John and his three sisters Sherrie, Anita and Niki grew up in the tight-knit community of Rice Heights in downtown Hartford.  The Harris family eventually moved to Windsor CT.  John was an athlete who loved sports and nature.  He played football and baseball at Hartford High School.  As a teenager, he learned to love the game of golf while working as a caddy at Keeney Park Golf Course in Hartford.  John earned a football scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, but ultimately graduated from the University of CT (UCONN) with a degree in Psychology and Math.  He started his career as a Social Worker with the State of CT but found that his heart was bigger than his paycheck.  He then decided to put his math skills to work in the Insurance Industry and began a 32-year career at The Aetna in Hartford.  During his career, he worked in Hartford as well as Middletown as an Analyst in the Annuity and Pension areas. John was a member of the Aetna Golf and Softball Leagues where he made many good friends over the years. He enjoyed traveling and took trips to Spain, Haiti, Bermuda and St. Croix He fell in love with Newport, RI and purchased a time share there where he took up scuba diving and fishing.  John met his wife Kathryn Ann Kelleher in East Hartford in 1985 while playing volleyball at Gateway Apartments where they had mutual friends. In September of ‘97 they traveled to Jamaica for a private Wedding-Moon, just for two. On February 19^th, 1999, they were blessed when beautiful baby girl, Jacquelyn Nicole Harris, entered their lives and made them a family. They settled down in Cromwell CT, with the TPC golf course in their backyard.

Unfortunately, John’s active lifestyle changed suddenly in January of 2003 when he suffered a ruptured aneurysm that left him confined to a wheelchair. His will to live and positive attitude served him well for nearly 20 years. The family moved from Cromwell to Glastonbury 2006.  John enjoyed attending his daughter’s dance recitals, soccer games, and show choir performances as well as many family events and holidays and vacations on Cape Cod and New Hampshire. John had a big heart and big laugh and no matter what life threw at him he met every challenge with a warrior’s spirit.  With each medical setback that presented itself, he bounced back.  He earned the nickname, the “Miracle Man” because he kept beating the odds.

John was pre-deceased by his parents and his sisters Anita Harris and Sherrie Harris-Lane.  He leaves his wife Kathryn (Kelleher) Harris of Glastonbury, his daughter, Jacquelyn Harris of Glastonbury, his sister, Niki Watson of Windsor, his close friend and Aide, Calvin Jones of New Britain and many in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.   Calling hours will be held at First Congregational Church, 2183 Main St., Glastonbury on Friday October 7^th from 9-10:30 followed by a Celebration of John’s Life. A Burial ceremony will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Windsor, CT following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation via our GoFundMe page at John Harris Memorial PKD Research Fund. Link here: https://gofund.me/630175fd, For online condolences please visit www.mulryanfh.com.