Richard A. Harrison

1935 - 2014

Harrison, Richard A. 07/22/1935 ~ 09/21/2014 SAN DIEGO -- Richard A. Harrison, Jr. died peacefully in San Diego, CA. He was born in Tipton, Indiana in 1935 and is survived by his sister Barbara Lockart of Tipton. Richard graduated from Franklin College in Indiana and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He received his graduate degree from Yale University. Richard was a valued and beloved director of theaters in Rochester, MN, Madison, WI, and San Diego, CA. His love of mentoring was evident as he served as professor at several California state universities. Starting in 1981, he was employed by the San Diego County Office of Education/ Instructional TV and from 1988-2010 was the Production & Programming manager at ITV. His professional accolades as a director/ producer were many, including Emmys, Telly awards, and Tony nominations. For Richard, though, it never was about the awards, but rather, the quality of the work; he encouraged everyone to be their best. While the "stage lights"* gradually dimmed as the cancer took its toll, Richard still sought out opportunities for adventure, such as jumping out of planes, flying to Hawaii for SDSU games, and visiting his college alma mater. Now, the stage lights are out and Richard is directing elsewhere as part of an adventure that can never be experienced on earth. We miss his witty comments. He was a voracious reader. "Faith, family, and friends"* was his recent motto. His friends say, "Rest in peace, you were a good man and a great friend. We will never forget you."* A Viking-style memorial will be held October 19. Please call 619-887-8762 for more information. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Family Literacy Foundation at www.readtokids.org. Richard exhibited great perseverance throughout his illness and was so thankful to his entire healthcare team, Dr. Marin Xavier, and the many nurses at Scripps Healthcare system.