Terrell James Harris
Terrell James Harris
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Terrell Harris Obituary
Terry began wrestling in high school and continued wrestling into his seventies. At the age of 72 at a competition for world freestyle wrestling in Sarajevo, he won a gold medal in the 65-70 age bracket. He enjoyed competitive skiing, sailing, computer programming, watching Olympic and collegiate wrestling, collecting antiques, art, mathematics, caring for his dogs, watching the Chicago Bears, restoring vintage English sports cars, philosophy, and spending time with family and long-time friends. While in school, he held a variety of jobs including janitor, landscaper, shoe shiner, bee keeper, caddy, roofer, stadium cleaner, lab technician, and construction worker, among many others. After working in the management consultant space for many years, true to his entrepreneurial spirit, he founded Chicago Consulting in 1983, which is now led by his long-time business partner Jeffrey Haushalter. At Chicago Consulting, he developed the OPTIMIZER inventory management tool, met and befriended many top executives, and published many papers about the industry. He was known for his commitment to excellence, self-reliance, and hard work.
Terry passed away at his home in Chicago on Sunday August 3, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents Red and Peg; his sisters-in-law Sue (née Oldaker) Harris, Barb (née Gay) Harris, and Edna (née Kimber) McManus; his brother-in-law Charles McManus, and his niece Linda (née McManus) Zukowski. He is survived by his wife Judith (née McManus) Harris; his brothers Michael (Sue) and Patrick (Norma); his daughter Amy Harris and his granddaughter Ciara Harris; his son Bradley; his nephews Timothy (Katherine) Harris, Kelly (Gwen) Harris, Rick (Angie) Harris, Matthew (Anne) McManus, Wayne McManus, Patrick (Karen) McManus, Doug (Caryn) McManus, and Neil (Alicia) McManus; his nieces, Meg (Bill) McCarel, Kathy (Mike) Uzelac, Maura (Ed) Dunn, Kim (Steve) Aldana, and Heather (Joe) Ennis; and many grand nephews and nieces and dear friends.
Per Terry's request, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Beat The Streets in Chicago. https://www.btschicago.org/
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
6 Entries
Karl
August 10, 2025
Terry was my friend. I miss him.
nigel
August 10, 2025
I met Terry back in 2017 training in hope gym. Was an amazing gym heart of a lion. You will be truly missed brother- Nigel
Tony Sinton
August 10, 2025
I meet Terry in 2004 when I relocated to Chicago from Johannesburg. We were both selling Inventory Optimisation and Terry very kindly agreed to meet me in is Office on the 36th floor 8 Michigan Ave south. Terry immediately offered to assist me and suggested we go hunting buffalo together in building our businesses. As a result we became great friends and both Judy and Terry invited my wife and myself to every Thanksgiving for the time we lived in Chicago. Terry was one of the smartest people I have known and was always willing to discuss business challenges and offered sound and helpful advice. The success I had while working in the US was largely due to his guidance. We will certainly miss Terry and his generous friendship
Gary Andrus
August 9, 2025
Terry and I were best friends (along with Jim Slinkard) growing up in Arlington Hts, IL in the early to mid 50's. Not long after our initial reunion on 2/26/2024 Terry told me about his health prognosis. I sent him the following story. It summarizes how immensely important Terry was to me. I miss him dearly. I will only add one line to our story, "even after death, true friendship knows no bounds."
Terry & Gary Story
Once upon a time in a small town surrounded by golden corn fields, two twelve-year-old boys named Terry and Gary were inseparable. From dawn till dusk, they spent their days frolicking in the neighborhood pool, riding bikes, fantasizing about girls, and dreaming about the future. Laughter and adventure defined their childhood, and their bond was stronger than anything.
But one summer afternoon, Gary's father got a job offer in another state, and Gary's family had to move away. With heavy hearts, the two boys promised to write letters and stay in touch. Unfortunately, as time went by, the letters grew less frequent until they eventually stopped altogether. Life, with its twists and turns, led Terry and Gary on different paths.
Seventy years passed, and both men lived full, rich lives. Yet, deep down, each held cherished memories of their childhood friendship. One day, Gary stumbled upon an old photo of him and Terry in the attic. The sight of their youthful grins sparked a desire to reconnect. Through the marvels of modern technology and a bit of help from the lord, he found Terry's email address.
With trembling hands, Gary wrote an email to Terry. He wasn't sure if Terry would remember him or even want to reconnect. To his delight, just a few days later, a return message appeared from Terry in his inbox. Terry remembered everything-the adventures, the laughter, the friendship. He, too, had always wondered about his old friend.
Arrangements were made for a reunion. When the day finally arrived, two 82-year-old men stood facing each other at a nearby eatery. As if no time had passed at all, their faces lit up with recognition and joy. They embraced, feeling the weight of decades melt away. At that moment, they were once again those twelve-year-old boys, ready for another adventure.
They spent the afternoon reminiscing, catching up on their lives apart, and making new plans for the days ahead. From discussing the latest prime number results to enjoying quiet dinners with their wives, Terry and Gary's friendship was reborn, stronger than ever.
Their story became a cherished tale of prevailing kinship, a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the magic of reconnecting with a kindred spirit. And so, Terry and Gary, once best friends, found that even after a lifetime apart, true friendship knows no bounds.
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James E Slinkard
August 9, 2025
Terry was my best and greatest friend since 4th grade in Arlington Heights. He will be missed very much. God Bless and much love his family.
Donald and Susan Jakob
August 9, 2025
Susan and I have had a long friendship with Terry Harris and his wife, Judy. We met and became good friends in the early 1960's during our shared years at the U of I and have remained close for over 60 years. Judy was Susan's roommate for a time at the U of I and Don shared a campus apartment with Terry for two years. We double-dated often with Terry and Judy and both couples married during the Summer of 1964. We continued to meet socially in Chicago while we lived in Illinois and stayed in contact long-distance when we lived in other parts of the U.S. We traded visits often after we resettled in Ohio in the 1970's and later in Virginia in the late 90's. Throughout the over 60 years of friendship we shared with Terry, we followed his successes in his career, his wide-ranging interests in sailing, sports cars, skiing, and wrestling, and enjoyed his sense of humor and love of life. During our visits with Terry and Judy over the years we often engaged in deep discussions over politics and life in general. We witnessed Terry's strong bond of love with Judy over the years and we now share in her deep sense of loss in his passing. We will miss him greatly. Don and Susan Jakob
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