Bruce Michael Harrington

Bruce Michael Harrington died on the 16th of July 2012. Born on the 12th of March 1933, in Houston, Texas, he was the second of three sons of Doris Gladden and George Haymond Harrington. Bruce attended H.I.S.D. schools until transferring to St. John's School upon its opening. He was a member of the class of 1951, the first class to graduate from the school. Later, he served as Chairman of the St. John's Board of Trustees and received its Distinguished Alumnus Award.
He continued his studies at Rice University and the University of Texas in Austin, until called to active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard. Upon completion of his service, he entered the University of Texas Law School, where he was an editor of the law review, a faculty assistant, magister of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He graduated in 1961, receiving his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees with honors.
Bruce returned to Houston and joined the law firm of Andrews and Kurth, where he practiced corporate, business and banking law. His experiences while representing the firm were varied and challenging. One of his most satisfying and enjoyable tasks was putting together a collection of Southwestern art for the firm. While he was still active in the Texas Bar Association, he chaired its committees on continuing education and the legal aspects of the arts. He also served on the American Bar Association committee on federal securities regulation and participated in the drafting of the Federal Securities Code.
After retiring from his legal practice, Bruce remained involved in business activities and served on several corporate boards. However, his principle interest and involvements were with charities and nonprofit organizations. He served as Chairman of the boards of Covenant House Texas, the Center for Hearing and Speech, the Gateway Foundation, and as a member of the boards of such institutions as the American Cancer Society and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. He spent many volunteer hours serving The Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, a chivalric and church affiliated organization, where he served in both national and international leadership roles.
Bruce and his family have been members of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Houston, from its founding in 1939. Over the years, he served the church in numerous capacities, such as Chairman of the Christian Education Committee, the Outreach Committee, the Building Committee, and as Senior Warden of its Vestry. He also was a lay reader and lay eucharistic visitor. Bruce's involvement with the church extended to the Diocesan level, as its representative at the National Consultation of Lay Ministry and as a member of the Houston Development Committee. He co-chaired a major gifts campaign to raise funds to build new churches and church facilities throughout the Diocese.
Bruce was a member of various social organizations, including the Houston Country Club, The Petroleum Club, Allegro, Bolero, Paul Jones, and Carribbee dance clubs. He loved sports, both as a participant and as an observer. He was a voracious reader, with a wide range of interests, and a lover of music, from classical to bluegrass. In addition, he was, as he described himself, a "relaxed collector of art," principally Southwestern. Yet, while Bruce had many interests and pursuits, his greatest joys, first and always, were his cherished wife, Anne, and their children and grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers, David H. Harrington and J. Dennis Harrington. Bruce is survived by his wife of 54 years, Anne Lawhon Harrington; their three daughters, Julia Harrington Branstetter, her husband, Dewey Branstetter, and their children, Hunter and Austin; Martha Harrington Jager, her husband, Jerry Jager, and their children, Kate and Kendall; Susan Harrington Jones, her husband, David Jones, and their children, Hannah, Watkin and Julia. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Doris (Dodie) Harrington; Jane Joplin and her husband Bill; his brother-in-law, Jim Lawhon; and many nieces and nephews.
The memorial service is to be conducted at one o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 21st of July, at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. Laurens A. Hall, Rector, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Sumners Hall.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Memorial Endowment Fund of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77019; or to the charity of your choice.