Harry Harrison

Norwood - Harry Harrison, "The Morning Mayor" and Radio Hall of Famer, of Norwood, NJ passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 (amazingly at 1:01 PM) at the age of 89. He was born in 1930 at home on the south side of Chicago. As a teenager Harry attended a seminary and intended to be a priest. But his senior year he was bed ridden with Rheumatic Fever for a year. His saving grace was his radio, he knew then that he wanted to become a Disc Jockey. He left the seminary and began his career which spanned six decades. In 1961 he married the love of his life, Patricia, whom he affectionately called "Pretty Patti". Together they made a home in Norwood where they raised their four children, Patti, Patrick, Michael and Brian Joseph "BJ". He was tragically predeceased by his wife Patti and sons, BJ and Michael with whom he is now with in heaven. He was a devoted husband and father and would go home after his stint on the radio to be with his family.

Although Harry was a part of radio history, having worked at WMCA, WABC, and WCBS FM, and was known as one of the "Original Good Guys", he was also a very humble and charitable person, often donating his time to support local police, fire and emergency services as well as Spectrum for Living and the American Cancer Society.

Visitation will be Monday, February 3, 2020 from 3-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale, NJ (201-767-3050). A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at 11 AM at St. Anthony's RC Church, Northvale with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.

Harry loved animals, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to your local animal rescue society or to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

"Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift." - Harry Harrison

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

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

Published by The Record/Herald News from Jan. 29 to Jan. 31, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Harry Harrison

Sponsored by Pizzi Funeral Home.

18 Entries

Larry Parisi

April 6, 2025

Loved listening to your radio show every morning on my way into work in the city back in the 80’s, 90’s, and into the early 2000’s. RIP Harry.

Paul

October 11, 2024

Found out about the 9/11 attacks my freshman year of college from the Harry Harrison show. My professor had his show on the radio in our classroom when the first attack got announced. RIP

Kathy Dawson

August 21, 2024

We had the very best on radio back then and the Morning Mayor was one in a million. Miss you Harry and that's the truth. Radio will never be the same but we have our memories of the great decades of AM and later on FM radio.

Jeff Delaney

July 8, 2024

Harry was the best. I used to listen to him every morning on CBS-FM for over 23 years, on my way into work from when he started there in 1980 until I retired in 2002. I continued listening to him until he retired himself which I believe was the following year in 2003. CBS-FM was never the same again after he left. A legend. RIP Harry

Kathy Dawson

January 23, 2024

Once again, thanks to Harry's family for keeping this beautiful reminder of the anniversary of his going home to God and for sharing it with those who cherished our Morning Mayor. During Christmas season I was going thru the many Christmas memories and cards and boxes of ornaments and ribbons for the Christmas tree and decorating for the holidays and I came across a signed copy of "May you Always" and it goes under my tree each year in his memory and as a reminder of all the simple beautiful priceless things in life that we should embrace and teach and share. I experienced one of the things Harry mentions in his "May you Always" and it happened back in the 1970's in a Baskin Robbins Ice cream store in Bronx NY. May have been Easter Sunday and we stopped in to get an Ice Cream cake and out of nowhere comes this precious little girl dressed up in her Easter outfit and a complete stranger to boot and she came running right up to me for a hug. Yes Harry - what a feeling to have a child run to you.
Thank you Harrison Family for sharing Harry with us again.

Kathy Dawson

January 25, 2023

Am so happy this anniversary reminder continues and keeps The Morning Mayor's memory alive. Thank you to Harry's family for this wonderful gift to his friends and fans and all who loved him.
This year on AM radio (WABC) they were doing a little thing honoring radio personalities who were well known and loved in the NY area and of course Harry was one they talked about and had cuts from his broadcasts. One person called in and mentioned "May you Always" and what a great reminder of that gem of a poem or prose that was Harry Harrison's own. He sent me a copy of that and to this day, all those wishes are still what many of us hope will happen for us and others. He will never be forgotten by this gal and I hope to meet up with him one day in heaven but for now, we have a lot of great memories. What a very special human being and he is still missed. "Rest happily in heaven with everyone you love Harry".

Kathy Dawson

January 24, 2022

Its so funny that I was only thinking of Harry the other day - he just popped into my head and now to see this reminder of his anniversary. To his dear family and friends; I think Harry is one of those very special people who will live in our hearts and never be forgotten. He made us so happy for all the years he was on the air and even if we never met him in person, over the decades, we went through the good times and not so good times with Harry at the microphone and that all added to how many of us came to know and love this good man and felt like we knew him forever!
He was a big part of my teen and adult years and sent me autographed picture of himself with such nice words too. Am hoping I get to heaven one day and hope he knows who I am because I want to be able to let him know how much he meant to me and I'm just one of the many many thousands who loved him and that great voice, great smile, great heart and the most positive outlook on life. It seems so much longer than two years since we lost this great guy - rest easy my friend.

Kathy
PS I also had "May you Always" pop into my head while decorating my Christmas tree this year. I have to put that under my tree next year - he sent me a copy of that many many years ago and it too lives in my heart. I wish they would play that over the air several times during the Christmas season - its just what we all need to hear again.
Thank you for keeping this legacy reminder on our one and only Handsome Harry Harrison.

Kathleen Dawson

January 25, 2021

Still miss his voice and hopeful positive attitude! Was only thinking recently of how morning radio is so markedly different and has been for many years. Harry lived in the same world we all did with news that was not always good and yet his program focused on bringing out the best in people and played such good music and did this with such a warm caring and happy voice - you could hear the smile in his voice. Where and why has that gone from radio today?
Thank God he is not here to see and hear what is coming out of the airwaves these past many years. The news is bad enough but adding radio personalities with no happiness or hope in their voice to the equation and what do you get - negativity that spreads all over the place. Harry Harrison spread fun and happiness and what a way to start your day. Pray for us Harry that we get someone like you back on radio in the mornings, afternoons and evenings too. Rest in heaven my friend.

Glenn Bernard

May 1, 2020

Harry Harrison the morning Mayor for decades as a kid my mom would listen to CBS FM and I continued listening to him as I grew into a young man going to college and work. Waking up in the morning was not starting your day with out waking up to Harry Harrison with his smooth voice, great personality and sense of humor and great play lists of music that started my day. I look back at those times and now they are great memories and a memory from one of the greatest Icons on NY radio Harry Harrison the good guy - Thank you Rest in Peace

John (Jack Meagher

February 6, 2020

Harry was a pleasure to work with. He was friendly and easygoing....in a business that often imposed strains on at-work relationships. Our deepest sympathies go to his family. John (Jack) Meagher
Formerly Closter - now Southern Shores NC.

Kathy Dawson

February 3, 2020

We lost such a wonderful human being with Harry now gone home to God. The only consolidation is that he is now with his Pretty Patti and two sons. He announced my birthday a few times over the years and what a thrill to hear on radio. His true blue fans could hear the difference in his voice when he returned to the station after his sorrowful loss's. Something was gone but he still managed to do his radio program. Over the many many years of listening to Harry and growing up with his great outlook and humor, it was perhaps profound that one morning while I was getting ready to go to the office and listening to Harry, his voice had concern in it when he announced on 09/11/01 that a plane had hit one of the towers in NYC. As I headed out to work, took my radio and continued listening only to hear him say, with even more concern in his voice, that a second plane hit the other tower. When he left the air waves for good, it was very hard for all of us who loved our Morning Mayor. He was one in a million and would never be replaced. Harry, I hope you're up there in heaven with Pretty Patti and the sons who have gone home to God and that you are smiling that great smile for all in heaven. Till we meet again my friend, I'll keep you in my prayers. My heartfelt condolences to the Harrison family and friends. Rest in Peace Harry.
Kathy Dawson

Diane

February 3, 2020

So sorry to learn of the passing of this wonderful man.....remembering some of his words heard so often on the radio...."Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift"....Thank you for all the memories and "MAY YOU ALWAYS"....

Cathy Cole

February 3, 2020

Saddened at the loss of our Morning Mayor. I have such great memories of Harry Harrison; once when he called me on my birthday to wish me a happy birthday and another when he and Pretty Patty sent me letters, etc after the passing of my dog. There are several others, too numerous to list. Such a great man he is a legend in his own right. Love hugs and prayers to his family, we will miss him

Steve & Margo

January 31, 2020

So sorry to hear this news. Who doesn't remember listening to Harry Harrison on the radio growing up in New Jersey in the 60s and 70s? He will be missed. May God bless him and his family.

Steve & Margo

January 31, 2020

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Herb Sauter

January 31, 2020

thanks to our "Morning Mayor" for great memories. He was a classy guy. May his soul rest with the Lord through all eternity.

John Rizzo

January 31, 2020

From the time I started listening to my older brother's transistor radio when I was 4 to the time he left CBS-FM decades later, Harry Harrison was my favorite. May the angels welcome him for a joyful reunion in Heaven.

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