Bob Harman Obituary

OVID - Bob Harman, of the Covert Farm in Ovid, died Wednesday (Sept. 16, 2009).
Born in Rochester, he was a son of the late H.A. and Lottie Lee (Covert) Harman. A former professional actor, Bob Harman began his art career doing caricatures of his fellow performers. His paintings, including portraits of Marion Anderson, Archibald Macleish, Dean Acheson and John D. Rockefeller II, are owned by many institutions. In 1971 he created "The Hollywood Panorama" a 5-foot-by-9-foot montage of 1,001 film stars against a background of famous sets and Hollywood landmarks. It was published in book form by E.P. Dutton. He followed this with three more books including, "Enchanted Faces"-portraits of film actresses between the two World Wars. Dubbed the "Artist of the Stars," his column "Movie Memories" appeared for five years in a national newspaper. In 2000 he was selected as one of the artists to be represented in the special one-year bicentennial exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. For several years he was retired in Santa Barbara, Calif., and his family home in Ovid.
Funeral arrangements were completed privately in New York. For condolences, please visit www.covertfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Finger Lakes Times from Sep. 25 to Sep. 27, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Bob Harman

7 Entries

October 5, 2009

I am just now finding out about Bob's passing, here in Jakarta Indonesia. Bob was a cherished friend of my mother's, and I went with her to meet him several years ago in his Ovid home. We took a picture then that is framed with me here in Jakarta. I treasure meeting him and the beloved friend he was of my Mom's, and many. I was incredibly impressed by the gracious, unassuming, yet so incredibly talented presence of this man. I cherish his work and fervently wish to see that all of it is preserved and honored in the best possible way. If I can be of any help to whomever is preserving Bob's treasured memories and artwork, please let me know. [email protected]. Bob is a great man and deserves to be remembered greatly.

Jeanne Tanner

October 2, 2009

Bob has been a long time friend, since our teen age years and a member of "our
gang" enjoying the teen canteen at the Centenary Methodist Church in Brighton and many other memorable occasions. He was an usher at our wedding and we are proud to have a couple of his original works of art. We had some great times visiting him when he attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. Over the years we have kept his note cards and Christmas cards.
He also did a collage of his myriad of friends which included those in "our gang" We are deeply saddened by his passing. Dick and Jeanne (Fleming) Tanner,

Ray and Sue Feasey

September 29, 2009

He was a close friend in High School and showed his talent early on. It was not possible to repay Bob for any of the kind, thoughtful things that he did for us. He would not hear of it. We will miss his beautiful Christmas cards and presence.
Sue and Ray Feasey of Honeoye Falls, N.Y.

Joan Shrewsbury

September 26, 2009

Bob was a friend and Brighton High SChool classmate, who finally came to a class reunion 15 or 20 years ago and then continued to send his beautiful drawings to me at Christmas time every year, which I have framed and hung in my home...we shared a common political philosophy, loved his sense of humor and artistry...we loved being part of his life in our twilght years...will miss you, Bob...Joan DeGelleke Shrewsbury

Mart Hulswit

September 25, 2009

I first met Bob in Lynchburg, VA, where he headed up the then nascent Lynchburg Arts Center, and taught drawing and painting to a group of very lucky and devoted people who recognized his brilliant talent. One of my proudest possessions is a portrait he did of me as a young man of 19,(I am now almost 70),just before I came to New York City to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. We kept in touch through the years, and my wife and I were the delighted recipients of many of his Christmas cards, which featured the lovely watercolors that characterized his work. We had a mutual friend, Leroy MacFarland, who ran the Lynchburg Community Theatre, who was one of my mentors during my 36-year career as a professional actor, who was the common factor that kept us in touch with Bob until his passing a few years ago, in Oregon.
Bob Harmon was a unique and gifted human being, with many funny artistic eccentricities that could fill a book of humor. He cared for his parents with rare devotion, and dearly loved his Ovid farm. To him, it was the world. His fame for exhibits and publications came as a sort of disturbing shock and surprise, and he preferred to be something of a recluse. Of his body of work as an artist, I suspect that he will be celebrated after his death to a degree that would astound him, but it will be well deserved. Please, family and friends, keep in touch with me, and let me know if any of his watercolors are for sale. I hope the artworks he left behind in his beloved studio are well cared for. I shall never forget him, and his gentle humor. It was one of my life's blessings to know him.
Mart Hulswit
Executive Director Emeritus
Episcopal Actors' Guild of America

September 25, 2009

I met Mr. Harman while employed at Kendal at Ithaca. He was a delightful and accomplished gentleman. I cherish the 2 cards and notes that he sent to me. They were his own creation and very beautiful. Robin Gavin

Veronica Robinson

September 25, 2009

I offer my deepest sympathy to this family. when tragedy strikes and takes the life of our loved ones, many cry out with great sorrow. your tears are not unnoticed by the creator of life. never was it his purposed for our human lives to be taken away. although your deep pain will not easly disappear. prayer to god will bring comfort to you as you grieve." the bible assures us god is healing the broken hearted ones, and is binding up their painful spot". {psalm 147:3}

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