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Verna Harrah Obituary
July 25, 1944
June, 29, 2012
Verna Harrah was born in Nampa, Idaho on July 25, 1944. She married casino icon, Bill Harrah, in 1974.
Verna founded and served as the CEO of Middle Fork Productions, naming her company after a place she loved, the middle fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, where she and Bill Harrah had married. Verna loved making movies. She produced Anaconda for Columbia Pictures which became one of the top 25 grossing films of 1997. This was followed by Anaconda: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid; Vacuums; the teen comedy Who's Your Daddy and The Canyon. She also produced Good Rockin Tonight, a musical documentary about the famous Sun Records recording label, that aired on PBS's "American Masters" and the hit stage musical, Reefer Madness that played off Broadway.
Verna Harrah was a woman of great courage, genuine compassion for others, and extraordinary generosity. She also had a deep commitment to justice. Above all, she had an indomitable spirit and a remarkable capacity to fight against adversity - driven by her optimism about the possibility of achieving good outcomes. She believed in tomorrow.
These values were expressed in her generous philanthropy.
In the 1980s, Verna helped establish The Rape Foundation and served on its Board of Directors for over two decades. She created the Rape Treatment Center's Verna Harrah Clinic at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center which transformed emergency medical care and forensic services for rape victims and sexually abused children. The Verna Harrah Clinic set a new standard and became a model for the nation. She gave a generous gift to TERI to establish a culinary program, named in her honor, on The Campus of Life, an international model for empowering individuals with special needs to lead lives of purpose and fulfillment. She also supported several medical research projects at UCLA Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center, and Scripps Research Institute.
Verna was instrumental in getting the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at UNLV named after her husband.
Verna co-financed and collaborated with the United States Information Agency, (USIA) to bring together in a series of round table discussions, government officials and a select group of private citizens from the Soviet Union and the United States during the Brezhnev/Gorbachev period. The mission was to reach a wider understanding between the two cultures through art, music, dance, and the building of personal friendships.
Verna is survived by her children, Richard (Julie) Harrah and Samantha (Eric) Coghlan, and her beloved grandchildren: Avery, Wyatt, Ozzy, and Cash. A memorial service is pending.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Verna Harrah
Sponsored by anonymous.
Barb StJohn
July 3, 2024
We were so fortunate to have met and worked together at Harrah's in the glory days. I think of you often and it always brings a smile with a wonderful memory.
Edwin James
July 2, 2024
You will truly be missed. May you rest easy
Samuel Harris Brock
June 23, 2024
I was Mrs. Harrah's House Manager for her properties. I lived a few blocks from her new home ~ Rancho Santa Fe California with my wife Anita. I was very close with Mrs. Harrah and shared many deep conversations about our stories of life. Mrs. Harrah was extremely kind and loved her children & close friends very much. We laughed at many situations ...Mrs. Harrah always had hilarious comments . I have many cherished memories while working for Mrs. Harrah. Samuel Harris Brock
Prishtina Kosovo
[email protected]
Edwin James
July 2, 2022
Gone but never forgotten
Power Johnson
June 8, 2018
I was blessed to have known and worked for Verna for ten years. She always had a special place in my heart. I feel honored to have been able to be a part of her life and her family in my position which I loved. My condolences to Richard and Samantha..Thank you as well for the memories. I think about Verna often.
Stephanie Smith
January 9, 2018
Verna Harrah believed in me and it made all the difference when she hired me, by retainer, to sell her Malibu home. It was woman to woman empowerment and she was gracious and kind and ahead of her time. Rest in peace, lovely lady!
Barbara (Denton) StJohn
June 19, 2015
Verna, my friend. You and I worked together in Harrah's Show Lounge in the late 60's and I have never forgotten the bond we formed during those fabulous years. You went on to a great and successful life. I know you were happy and you made Mr. Harrah happier than he had ever been before. You will be missed by all who knew and loved you.
Edwin James
February 8, 2013
i just learned of this shocking news my prayers goes out to all the family and frends of verna harrah. i edwin james was a technician of hers while she was on dialysis. she will be truly missed. The most caring human being i have ever met
Beth Pachacki
January 29, 2013
My love to your family. I met Verna at Harrahs in the 70's.
Was a 21 dealer at Harrahs Reno. She was a great lady and so beautiful.
Lorrie Ferris
January 2, 2013
Dear Richard,
I've just learned of your Mom's passing. I'm so deeply sorry for your loss.
Verna was a remarkable person and I'm blessed for having known both of you. She was extremely generous to our family and Tyler and I will never forget her for it.
Love and hugs to you. I wish you and your family a long and happy life.
Claudia Marston
December 28, 2012
Dear Family,
I just learned of Verna and was so surprised and saddened.
She was my roommate our sophmore year at Seattle U., and we had such great fun. She is also the Godmother for our son Michael who was baptized in La Jolla, CA, in 1977. At that time, Verna and Bill came to the baptism. Even though it was hard to keep in touch over the years, I still regarded her as my friend. Thus, the loss of her affects me deeply. I'm so sorry for all of you because I know how much she loved you.
Patti Moore
December 15, 2012
Richard - you don't know me but we are related. Your mom's mother & my dad were first cousin's (his mother was Nellie Carothers McHugh). I am just reading this and am so sorry to hear of your loss. From all I ever learned through the family she was an amazing woman.
K Jimenez (Rodriguez)
November 28, 2012
Dear Richard, Julie & Samantha..
I too just learned of Verna's passing.. Please accept my deepest condolences, Verna was a wonderful person, she touched many lives in her time here. God Bless!
Dan Bolea
September 17, 2012
I just learned of this saddest of news and I am so upset at the untimely passing away of such a great woman. As CEO of the Fiji film commission I worked with Verna in bringing Anacondas to shoot in Fiji in 2003. I truly enjoyed working with her as she had real class, integrity and a deep conviction about always doing what was right. She effectively launched the Fiji film industry with her film and I was always hoping to welcome her back to Fiji for a visit. We too will miss such a great and wonderful person. Rest in peace, Verna.
Jackie Franks
August 25, 2012
Dear Richard , Sam and Julie,
Thinking of you this w e. I was reading the loving things people wrote about your Mom. She was revered by many!
August 23, 2012
Dear Richard, Samantha, and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you
and Hoping to see you again in Sun Valley, Idaho. Much love Annie Karie
Brook Finnegan
August 20, 2012
I am so sorry for the loss of Verna. We went to high school together and worked together at the Penny Wise Drug store soda fountain in Twin Falls. We were such good friends and I will miss her. Brook Anderson Finnegan
crystal graybill
August 15, 2012
Sami, I just found out about Vernna. You might not remember me but my mom was married to Bud Harrison for a few years. My brother and I got to come down to the house in Malibu. ( Crystal and Michael)We both loved your mom as our own Aunt. Please, if there is anything I can do for you, email me [email protected]. Love you Cuz.
Valari O'Neal
August 12, 2012
Dear Sami, Richard & Julie,
I am so saddened by the news. I hope the wonderful memories of your mom will give you strength during this time of grief.
Valari O'Neal (former household staff)
Christine Lakin
July 25, 2012
A wonderful woman. It was a blessing to know and work with her. I feel quite lucky to have done so. Verna, may your spirit live on through your work, and may we all be inspired by your memory.
fran gennawey
July 16, 2012
Niece Cara & family....so sorry to hear about your Aunts passing. My name is Fran Gennawey, lost contact with you. Here is my cell#714-794-7995. Gods Blessing to all.
Charlie McWilliams
July 16, 2012
Rich,
I just heard about your mom and was truly saddened by the news! Please except my true condolences and call me when next in Sun Valley.
Sincerely,
Charlie McWilliams
Martha Luttrell
July 11, 2012
Dearest Samantha and Richard and Julie , my heart is breaking for all of you and the children that dear Verna is gone. I am so sad for all of you and all of us. Much love, Martha Luttrell
Victoria Koehler-Jones
July 11, 2012
Richard, My name is Vicki Jones (Victoria Koehler-Jones) and I went to school with your Mother in TF,ID from an early age. She was my best friend for many years. She was creative, artistic and iconoclastic from the first water and I loved being around her. She was a very special person with a strong life force and I can't imagine what a loss you must be feeling now. Her passing certainly tears a hole in my reality. I send you thiw with deepest sympathy. (BTW, I'm the one who helped you learn African countries in about 1997, Sun Valley. You got an A.)
Barbara StJohn
July 11, 2012
Lovely Verna and I worked at Harrah's together in the cocktail lounge during the glory days. She was a wonderful friend and a great partner. I am so sorry for your loss and the loss of a beautiful person.
Cary Yamamoto
July 9, 2012
Dear Richard and Family,
Sorry to hear of your loss. As a fellow classmate from Huffaker Elementary, I have fond memories of birthday parties at your family home and show and tell with your Emmett Kelly collection. As a 4th grader I took those times for granted but now appreciate the level of community that our small school fostered with families during that time. It certainly made a positive impact it made for me.
In reading your mother's accomplishments, I can only imagine the many people who were touched in a positive way by her caring and generosity. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
July 8, 2012
To: The Richard Harrah Family:
I was saddened to hear of the loss of your mother in the RGJ. You may not even remember who I am but I thought it was appropriate to express my sympathies. I was one of your classmates at Huffaker Elementary School from 1974-1978 and have many fond memories of your father's generosity to our classes. I still treasure the picture from our visit to the Automobile Collection. From the outside looking in, I felt you were part of a beautiful family. May you take comfort in all of your mother's accomplishments and her amazing beauty during this very sad season of your life. Blessings, Catherine B. Gardella aka Cathy Barrett
Bill Magee
July 8, 2012
Too young to die. But as someone said, "The good die young".
Heaven's gain.
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