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Helen Harmon Obituary
Helen was a graduate of Hastings High School ('57), attended Swarthmore College, and received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Syracuse University.
After graduation, Helen moved to Manhattan to take a job with Citibank. There, she met her future husband, Gary Harmon. Gary persuaded her that the "Wild West" of California – his home state – deserved a chance, so in 1965 Helen & Gary married and moved to Silicon Valley. Helen worked as a computer programmer for a subsidiary of IBM before becoming a volunteer, homemaker, and mother.
Helen was an active member of Alpha Phi, AAUW, and the Century Club. She enjoyed spending time with family, taking classes, and going to theater, opera, and the symphony.
She and her late husband traveled to many countries. Highlights include the pyramids of Egypt, the majesty of Persepolis, the wildlife of Kenya, a close encounter with blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos, and being able to email from Easter Island.
She is survived by her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, Heather, John, and Arya Cochran; and her sisters-in-law Jane Howard and Gayle "Sunny" Harmon Mills and their families. Her husband of 50 years, Gary Harmon, and her brother, Mike Howard, predeceased her.
Friends are invited to a celebration of her life Saturday, April 29 at 2:00 PM at the Century Club, 1355 Franklin Street, San Francisco CA 94109.
In lieu of flowers, people wishing to make a donation are encouraged to consider The Century Club of California, the Club's non-profit organization (The 1888 Foundation), or a charity of the donor's choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Helen Harmon
4 Entries
April 29, 2017
Dear Heather...
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you, John and Arya.
We are indeed fortunate that we have the memories that offer some comfort at this time. Of special note are our many events at Sacred Heart with you and Karen and with your mother and dad. And of special note, the golf games with your Dad at Stanford and the stories that followed when we were all together.
We look forward to seeing you on April 29th.
Bob and Arlene Lindblom
Madelaine (Maggie) Kosinski
April 20, 2017
We shall miss you terribly, my dear friend. I shall always remember you & I were born on the same day & you, jokingly reminded me you were 1 year younger, as we went thru the Hastings School System. My heartfelt deepest sympathy to to your family.
April 19, 2017
Dear Heather & Family,
it is with a heavy heart that we extend our heartfelt sadness to you over the untimely death of your mother and our classmate/friend.
Andy and Helen were classmates from grade 7 - 12 at Hastings High School and shared many fond memories of the fun, innocent times we had during those formative years in our lives.
Since reconnecting with each other at the now infamous HHS Class of '57 reunions, especially the last two at San Francisco and in the NC mountain town of Cashier, Helen held a very special place in our hearts. Helen will be missed at our May 1-4 reunion in Charleston, but she will never be forgotten.
Our love to you and your family
Andy & Georgianna Kerfut
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Memorial Events
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