David Albert Harris born September 3, 1939 in Philadelphia, PA died January 17, 2026 in New York City due to pancreatic cancer. David was a member of the inaugural four-year graduating class of Morris Hills Regional High School in Rockaway, NJ in 1957. After high school David proudly served in the U.S. Army for almost three years, before returning to Dover, New Jersey.
David worked at the New Jersey Natural Gas Company, eventually achieving the position of foreman, before leaving in 1976. He worked another 25 years for two leading leak sealing specialists which included traveling throughout the US and abroad, before his 'first retirement' in the early 2000s. After that first retirement, David worked for several automotive dealerships including Hempstead Ford and Lincoln in Hempstead, Long Island for more than 20 years until he was almost 86 years of age.
A major source of David's pride was his almost 58 years in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous where he was a valued member, frequent speaker and regularly attended meetings which most recently included the Saturday Afternoon Discussion group in Tribeca. David moved to the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan in 1978 and then to Tribeca twenty years later. He was often addressed by the unofficial moniker of mayor of Independence Plaza, the large three-building apartment complex he lived in and could often be found on the benches outside his Harrison Street home greeting people and pets while telling and listening to stories with his many neighbors.
David was predeceased in death by his parents Walter David and Gertrude Martha (Dunn) and his spouse Elizabeth 'Lisa Mayo' Harris. David is survived by his sister Marsha Judith Orth and son Francis Walter (Nicki) Harris. Nephews Rick (Kris) Orth, their children Matthew, Stephan and Kevin; Michael Orth, daughter Sarah; Paul (Alexis) Orth and their children Chloe, Jude and Kelly. Sister-in-laws Gloria Miguel, her children Monique Mojica and Raphael Szykowski; sister-in-law Muriel Miguel (Deborah Ratelle); niece and grand-nieces Murielle Borst Tarrant, her daughter Henu Josephine Tarrant (Travis Richardson) and their daughter Ella.
A memorial is planed for March 21, 2026.
David worked at the New Jersey Natural Gas Company, eventually achieving the position of foreman, before leaving in 1976. He worked another 25 years for two leading leak sealing specialists which included traveling throughout the US and abroad, before his 'first retirement' in the early 2000s. After that first retirement, David worked for several automotive dealerships including Hempstead Ford and Lincoln in Hempstead, Long Island for more than 20 years until he was almost 86 years of age.
A major source of David's pride was his almost 58 years in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous where he was a valued member, frequent speaker and regularly attended meetings which most recently included the Saturday Afternoon Discussion group in Tribeca. David moved to the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan in 1978 and then to Tribeca twenty years later. He was often addressed by the unofficial moniker of mayor of Independence Plaza, the large three-building apartment complex he lived in and could often be found on the benches outside his Harrison Street home greeting people and pets while telling and listening to stories with his many neighbors.
David was predeceased in death by his parents Walter David and Gertrude Martha (Dunn) and his spouse Elizabeth 'Lisa Mayo' Harris. David is survived by his sister Marsha Judith Orth and son Francis Walter (Nicki) Harris. Nephews Rick (Kris) Orth, their children Matthew, Stephan and Kevin; Michael Orth, daughter Sarah; Paul (Alexis) Orth and their children Chloe, Jude and Kelly. Sister-in-laws Gloria Miguel, her children Monique Mojica and Raphael Szykowski; sister-in-law Muriel Miguel (Deborah Ratelle); niece and grand-nieces Murielle Borst Tarrant, her daughter Henu Josephine Tarrant (Travis Richardson) and their daughter Ella.
A memorial is planed for March 21, 2026.
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