HARRIET MIKA Obituary


MIKA HARRIET BOWEN MIKA Harriet Bowen Mika, 76, of Springfield, Virginia passed away on March 11, 2013, from complications of lung cancer. Visitation will be held Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, Fairfax, VA on Sunday, March 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Annandale, VA on Monday, March 18 at 11 a.m., with reception to follow. A private burial will follow the funeral services at Ivy Hill Cemetery, Alexandria, Virginia. Harriet was born in Washington, DC, on January 12, 1937 to Mary Bowen Stephenson and William Stephenson. She later moved to Illinois and graduated from the University of Chicago Lab High School. She received her BA in European History and Political Science from Knox College, Galesburg, IL, 1958, and then a MS in Modern European History from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1960. Harriet was a public high school teacher starting her career at St. Charles high school in St. Charles, IL, she moved to Fairfax County in 1964 and taught at Thomas Edison HS for 6 years and then spent 22 years at W.T Woodson HS, retiring in 1992. In retirement, she worked as a volunteer for William J. Clinton's first Presidential transition into office, then as an assistant at the Department of Agriculture, and in the finance office of the Audrey Moore Recreation Center at Wakefield Park. Harriet was married to Walter J. Mika on July, 25, 1970 in Alexandria, Virginia. Harriet was a long time member of both the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and National Women's Democratic Club. She served faithfully as a vestry member and altar guild member at both the Church of Good Shepherd in Burke, VA and later at St. Barnabas Church in Annandale. Harriet is survived by her husband Walter J. Mika Jr., her son David P. C., her daughter-in-law Pamela and her granddaughter Isabella Grace. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation in Harriet's name to either the Fairfax County Retired Educators, Scholarship Fund at PO Box 75, Fairfax, VA 22038-0075 or to Frying Pan Farm Park at fryingpanpark.org. www.fmfh.com

Published by The Washington Post from Mar. 15 to Mar. 16, 2013.
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Sincere condolences to her family. I had Mrs. Mika for 11th grade social studies and she completely changed my life and set me on the path I am on now. Because of her, I went to college earlier instead of lounging around another year of high school.

She was so incredibly caring under that strict exterior. And not even strict, exactly, she just demanded our best work and didn't let students coast along. She will always be remembered as one of my all-time favorite teachers.

Sharon Finberg

March 20, 2013

So sorry to learn about your loss. My thoughts ans prayers are with you and David.

Elise Emanuel

March 19, 2013

Sending my sincerest condolences. Thinking of both of you.

Angela Christianson

March 15, 2013

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