Harriet Judith Novarr

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Harriet Novarr Obituary

Harriet Judith Novarr, 45, of Bloomfield, formerly of Washington, D.C., died Friday, (April 19, 2002) with her family by her side. She was the daughter of Leo and Sylvia (Greenbaum) Novarr. Born in Hartford, she graduated the Yeshiva of Hartford, attended Hartford Public High School, was a recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Award, and was all-state in basketball and volleyball. She attended Syracuse University, was the first recipient of a full scholarship for women's basketball, and still holds the highest single season scoring average. She graduated from The George Washington University. Harriet played professional basketball for Maccabee-Tel Aviv in Israel, and played with the New York Stars in the first women's professional basketball league in the United States. She was an accomplished tennis player, winning many tournaments, was ranked #1 in the Washington, D.C. area, and worked for the Washington Tennis Foundation as an administrator of youth tennis programs. She was inducted into the Greater Hartford Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. Harriet traveled the world extensively playing basketball and making friends. Besides her parents, she is survived by sisters, Susan Schenker and her husband Michael, and Davida Novarr; and brother, Daniel Novarr and his wife Avra. Harriet was a very special aunt to her nieces, Caryn Solomon and her husband Adam, and Lauren Schenker; nephews, Jonathan Schenker, Matthew Novarr, and Jason Novarr; and great nephew, Noah Solomon. Whenever she babysat, one never knew who was in charge. Harriet will be missed by innumerable friends in Hartford, Washington, D.C., and the world. Services will be graveside TODAY, April 21, 3 p.m., at the Brahilover Benevolent Society Cemetery, Cleveland Ave. Ext., off of Garden St., Hartford. The family will observe a period of mourning at 208 Duncaster Rd., Bloomfield. Donations in her memory may be made to the Washington Tennis Foundation, William FitzGerald Tennis Center, 16th and Kennedy Sts. NW, Washington, D.C., 20011 or the American Cancer Society, "Look Good, Feel Better", 538 Preston Ave., PO Box 1004, Meriden, CT 06450. Funeral arrangements provided by Hebrew Funeral Association.

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Published by Hartford Courant from Apr. 20 to Apr. 21, 2002.

Memories and Condolences
for Harriet Novarr

11 Entries

Phil Cefaratti

November 7, 2023

I'm long overdue in memorializing Harriet. We met on the basketball courts at Hardy Playground in NW DC in the mid-80s. She was a great spirit, great competitor, and a great basketball player. As the only woman on the court, she more than held her own, and I was in awe that she was an actual pro. Continue to RIP Harriet.

Karim Shariff

August 20, 2023

I came from Kenya to Hartford Public High School in September 1973 and entered the 9th grade. Even though Harriet was a senior at the time, she would say hi to me as she would walk in the hallway. I left HPHS a year and a half later.

Eivind Bjerke

May 1, 2002

I first met Harriet when she was starting her cancer treament,since I'm a hairdresser in Washington DC.,and do work with cancer patience.Harriet came to one of the Look Good Feel Better programs,and she became one of our speciel STARS. The camera loved Harriet and Harriet loved the camera, so when ever we where on the stage or did pitures with Harriet, she made all of us look realy good. Maybe many of her friends have seen the L.G.F.B. tape where she has a staring role,and it is being used all over the country at L.G.F.B. sessions.She was such a special friend to lot of us , and i will forever remember her wonderful smile and her STAR quality.

Sara Gorrell

April 25, 2002

I got to know Harriet through my many adventures with Caryn and Lauren in DC. Whether at figure skating shows, concerts or lengthy dinners, I was taken by how accepting and inclusive Harriet was. She always let me tag along with her and her nieces.

When I was diagnosed thyroid cancer two years ago, I got to relate to Harriet in a new way. I really learned to appreciate her strength, determination and humor. I remember stories of Harriet exercising during her first chemo treatments. I, in turn, adopted walking and WOW did it make a difference in my recovery.

Harriet lived by doing what felt good and I admire that. It was her own take on "carpe a diem." Living that way sounds so simple, but can be much harder to achieve than one thinks. Harriet is a wonderful reminder of all we have to laugh about, celebrate, and be thankful for. Whenever I hear "Dave" I know I will always think of Harriet b/c she was that passionate and it did matter to her. Those qualities are so refreshing and I will always remember her that way.

To her entire family, many more people than I know, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Danny Duggan

April 24, 2002

I knew Harriet in High School. We were classmates at HPHS. I did not know her very well, but I always remembered her strong prescence in any room she was in. Everyone liked her, she was a very good soul. Everyone always wanted to be near her. And her kindness and friendliness was with all groups - no matter who you were. I often thought of her and wondered about her. I am very sorry to see she has left us. She brought joy wherever she went. My condolences to her family. May your memories of her keep you warm until you see her again.

John Hallagan

April 24, 2002

I met Harriet in 1989 playing basketball at Yates Field House at Georgetown University. We enjoyed many, many happy hours together playing basketball and tennis. We shared dinners and movies. She liked visiting my house in Arlington because I had a dog and a yard with a deck that we sat on. Harriet was kind and generous and caring and loving - everything that you want a friend to be. We enjoyed seeing each other smile and being happy, and I so wanted her to attend my wedding in September but she couldn't, so we shared it by email. Thank you for sharing her with all of us. Harriet was a wonderful, wonderful person.

John Hallagan

2233 North Buchanan St.

Arlington, VA 22207

Donna St. John

April 23, 2002

I had the pleasure to meet Harriett for the first time last year. She came to a picnic with Dan and Avra that I was giving. She was so pleasant to be with and to talk with. I know that she will truley be missed by her friends and family. My heart goes out to them.

Shannon White

April 22, 2002

To Harriet's amazing and loving family, I want to tell you how deeply moved I was at reading the tributes to Harriet which Avie forwarded to me. To know Harriet was to forever be touched by her grace,loving and light filled spirit. She was such an enchantress in every sense of the word. The past two summers Avie and Dan brought Harriet to Kennebunkport for a beach vacation. This past summer we were lucky to have Davida here too and being in the presence of this sibling group was to share their love and laughter and to be the recipient of the best stories ever! Harriet was such a treasure to all who knew her. She was beautiful,exotic, fascinating, intelligent and totally down to earth. Two summers ago when Harriet was visiting, we went to a craft fair on the Green in the center of town. Harriet made friends with all the artists there but the special new friend she made that day was a little puppy. All life was precious to Harriet. As she said good bye to the puppy that day, she said in the most heartfelt way "Have a wonderful life". I will always remember how Harriet continued to really live her life right up to the moment of her death. She was an inspiration to me, to my daughter Sara, and I am certain to every person lucky enough to have been graced by her presence. With our heartfelt sympathy, love and affection to Harriet's family and world of friends, we will continue to carry the light of her life along with us as we journey on our path...Thank you Harriet for your legacy of unconditional love and appreciation for "the simple and precious things" in life. We will never forget you. Shannon and Sara White

IRA rosen

April 22, 2002

Harriet and I became very good friends when she lived in Washington. She would often beat me in tennis, basketball. In basketball she had a wonderful turnaround fadeaway jump shot and in tennis her strength was her cross-court backhand.

When she became sick she would still try to get on the court but her strength was leaving her. I remember we went to see the movie Goodfellas together and she was going through chemo and had a wig on....I remember even then years ago, how angry she was about the cancer because it was affecting her basketball..

She was a wonderfully warm and loving person and i will often think of her virtues as something to aspire to...

Michael Snyder

April 21, 2002

I would love to share my very fond memories of Harriet with your family. I played at Syracuse the same time as Harriet, and for the past decade have kept in touch through a mutual friend, John Hallagan, in Washington. Suffice it to say that she made my life better as both an 18-year old and today, and will tomorrow. My five children have been told of the orange sherbert shakes she made me at Baskin-Robbins in 1976 or so, and of her noble life. I will honor her at our Temple this weekend, and remember her each year. Thank you for sharing her with the world.

Pat Lerch

April 21, 2002

Harriet was my student at HPHS many years ago. She was so bright, so friendly, so full of life -- a very special young lady and I feel privileged to have known her for those few years.

I had kept in second-hand contact with Harriet, passing good wishes back and forth by means of her good friend Irene Killian, with whom I work, and I know that Harriet fought the cancer valiantly, a tribute to her strong spirit.

There is no doubt that she will be greatly missed by those who were fortunate enough to have claimed her as a friend or family member.

Please accept my sincerest condolences.

Pat Lerch

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