Edward Monroe Harris Jr.

1923 - 2014

Harris, Jr., Edward Monroe
Edward Monroe Harris Jr., a resident of Darien, Connecticut for 65 years, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 8th at Stamford Hospital. He was 90 years old. Born in 1923 in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late Edward M. Harris, Sr. and Grace Wilson Harris. A graduate of Lower Merion High School and Yale University, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific from 1943 to 1946 and saw combat on Okinawa. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1949. He began his career at Sullivan & Cromwell and joined Pitney-Bowes in 1967, retiring in 1988 as Vice-President, Secretary and General Counsel. His beloved wife of 57 years, Marion Stevens Harris, died in 2007.
He was very active in community affairs. He was Chairman of the Darien Board of Education (1968 to 1971) and served as director of the Stamford Museum and Nature Center (President 1987-88), director of the Connecticut Humanities Council; director of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation; and director of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. He was also an Elder of the Noroton Presbyterian Church.
His family and friends will miss his generosity, wise counsel, love of learning, and lively conversation. He had broad interests, enjoying travel, sports, gardening, history, and theater. He was an avid skier until the age of 73. In his retirement, he wrote a book entitled The Bridge Between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era. He was a member of the Wee Burn Country Club.
He is survived by his daughter, Marion O. Harris of Fargo, North Dakota and two sons, Edward M. Harris III of Athens, Greece and Peter D. Harris of Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his sister Grace Harris Steiner of Zieglerville, Pennsylvania.
A memorial service will be held at Noroton Presbyterian Chapel, 2011 Post Road, Darien on Tuesday, May 20th at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Darien EMS-Post 53, P.O. Box 2066, Darien, CT 06820 and The Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820.