Brigitte Harris

1935 - 2016

HARRIS

BRIGITTE The beloved wife of Mort Harris, died after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Brigitte Power was born in Aachen, Germany in 1935 and lived through World War II including the firebombing of Dresden when she was ten, and the rebuilding of home and country from scratch. After the war Brigitte learned English, completed two years at Cambridge, and began a career as an executive administrator for the A.C. Nielsen Company. This early career took her to London, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Stockholm. At A.C. Nielsen, she met her first husband, Justin Power, Sr. They were married in December of 1958 and had three children together. After the premature death of Justin Sr., Brigitte met Mort Harris, a dashing, widowed, American entrepreneur. They fell deeply in love and Brigitte began a new life in Bloomfield Hills with Mort and her three children and with Mort's three sons. In her newly adopted home of America, Brigitte, a woman of rare elegance and charm, volunteered her time supporting many charitable organizations. She was particularly enthusiastic about the Cranbrook Garden Club, Oakland Family Services, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Institute of Art, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Henry Ford Hospital Systems and Wayne State University, all organizations that she deeply valued because they significantly enhance the local community. Brigitte also found time to play tennis and golf, entertain her many friends, travel extensively, spend time with her family, and dote on her adoring husband, Mort. She delighted in animated discussions about politics, history and philosophy. She pruned and nurtured her beautiful rose garden that always gave her a sense of peace and belonging in the universe. She will be sorely missed by her adoring husband, Mort; their children and their respective spouses, Michele and Daniel Becker, Justin and Renee Power, Oliver and Karron Power, Paul and Susan Harris, Scott and Charlotta Harris, Stuart and Kathy Harris; and by her grandchildren, Caroline Power, Amanda and Blair Withington, Julia and Jack Constant, Max Harris, Spencer Harris and Lizzie Kamins, Robert Becker, Claudia LeGarie, Harrison Power, Sirena Power, Annaliese Power, and Sophia Power; and of course, by her many devoted friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at Christ Church Cranbrook, 470 Church Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 on Wednesday, July 27th at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers please consider making a memorial donation in Brigitte's memory to Oakland Family Services, 114 Orchard Lake Road, Pontiac, MI 48341, or to the Cranbrook Educational Community, or to The Nature Conservancy.