Phyllis Harrison

1927 - 2014

Phyllis Harrison

AGE: 87 •

Cortlandt Manor

Phyllis Haggerty Harrison, a journalist, a traveler and a lover of fine cooking passed away at the age of 87 on April 23rd, 2014 in Cortlandt Manor, NY. She was born on April 14th, 1927 in Arlington, MA to Thomas and Henrietta Haggerty. The cause was lung cancer.

Phyllis grew up in Arlington, MA. She went to high school at Mount Ida boarding school in Newton, MA. She studied liberal arts at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, MA for two years but soon realized her passion for journalism. She transferred to Boston University School of Journalism where she graduated with a degree in Journalism. She worked as the Publicity Director for several airlines -including Northwest Orient Airlines and Sabena Airlines- and contributed to numerous travel books.

Phyllis married Basil Fraser Harrison in 1960 in New York, NY. They were happily married for 38 years before Basil died in 1998. Phyllis was an active member of so many organizations, notably the American Association of University Women where for over 50 years she helped empower women through education. She also volunteered at the Twigs Thriftree thrift store of Northern Westchester Hospital, with the Westchester Land Trust, and with the Garden Club of Yorktown.

Those closest to Phyllis remember her as generous person with a big heart who was heavily influenced by the places she visited, by food she ate, and by the friends she made. Early in her career, she traveled all around the world - and these trips impacted her life forever. She experienced both the luxuries of the finest hotels & best restaurants and the impacts of poverty which made her thankful for what she had. She fell in love with different cuisines and really enjoyed reproducing those flavors for friends & family back at home. Beyond her experiences, Phyllis was a pillar around which many families & groups were built. She believed that what mattered most was being together and helping one another. Her absence will be felt by her family and even more broadly with others she touched.

Phyllis is survived by her son Alexander Fraser Harrison and his wife Pamela Harrison of Croton-on-Hudson, NY; her son Scott Fraser Harrison and his wife Bonnie Harrison of Bainbridge Island, WA, and four granddaughters Molly Harrison, Abigail Harrison, Meagan Harrison and Jerilyn Harrison.

A visitation will be held at the EDWARD F. CARTER FUNERAL HOME, 41 Grand Street, Croton-on-Hudson NY on Sunday April 27th from 2-4PM and 7-9PM. A funeral service will be held at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Croton-on-Hudson, NY on Monday April 28th at 11AM.

Memorial donations can be made to the American Association of University Women at http://www.aauw.org/contribute/.

Additional details at www.EFCarterFuneralHome.com/.