John Nichols Harris

1933 - 2022

John (Jack) Nichols Harris

Peterborough NH - John (Jack) Nichols Harris, 89, of East Hartford, loving husband for 62 years of Betty C. Harris, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Born in Peterborough N.H. on April 23, 1933, son of the late Vernon and Dorothy (Nichols) Harris. Jack was a graduate of Peterborough High School class of 1952, attended Springfield College and earned a B.A. from the University of Hartford. Jack was in the United States Army stationed in Seoul, Korea. He was a member of the Army Security Agency serving as a Constant Wave Radio Operator. Prior to his retirement he was employed by Raymond Engineering as a Purchasing Manager in aerospace manufacturing.

Jack was an avid sports enthusiast throughout his life. He played high school baseball and basketball and was co-captain his senior year. Dave Gavitt was a teammate and he attended Dave's induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He continued to play baseball in the Army and was involved in little league with his children. He was a big fan of the Red Sox, Boston Celtics and the UCONN Women's Basketball team. Jack had many hobbies and was accomplished in woodworking, building stonewalls, creating stained glass, and anything else he put his mind to. He lived by the "Golden Rule" and spent much of his time helping others. Along with his wife Betty he worked in his yard gardening and making their home a beautiful, welcoming place and earning the town's beautification award. Above all else Jack was a loving family man. He was a devoted husband and a kind and caring father who instilled in his children the value of hard work, compassion and the importance of family as well as integrity and sacrifice.

Jack is survived by his three children, Stuart Harris and his wife Madeline, John V. Harris and his wife Bonita, Wendy H. Willis and her husband James; eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Betty, twin sister Judith and brother Kendall.