DAVID HARRAH

HARRAH--David Ellsworth. David Ellsworth Harrah, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and decorated Marine Corps veteran, died June 18, 2023, in Phoenix, AZ, at age 89. Dave was born Nov. 7, 1933, in Norwalk, CT, the son of George Raymond Harrah and Lida Ann Harrah (Ellsworth). He grew up in Essex, CT, where he loved to sail and excelled in sports. He graduated from The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and attended Princeton, where he played hockey, before enlisting in the Marines. During his 20-year military career, he rose to the rank of master gunnery sergeant, one of the top enlisted ranks, and served in the Vietnam War. Stationed in Japan, he met his wife Miyako Oota, with whom he had two sons; they later divorced. In Washington, D.C., he served at many events and functions, including as an usher at the 1963 funeral of President John F. Kennedy. He later managed hotels in the Phoenix area, then joined the Phoenix Racquets of World Team Tennis as a top executive. In 1980, he married Patricia Bedrava, who became his partner in life and in business. They ran a financial planning company until retiring in Fallbrook, CA. For many years, he made it his daily custom to fly the American flag outside his home each day, adhering to the flag code. His respect for Old Glory earned him a special Flag Certificate from the local Daughters of the American Revolution for his "love of and dedication to our country and its flag." Survivors include his wife, Patricia Harrah; sons, Neal Harrah (Mary) of Apple Valley, MN, and Brian Harrah (Rhonda) of New York City; sister, Constance Harrah of Killingworth, CT; granddaughters, Therese, Madeline and Annemarie Harrah; stepsons, Bill and Bob Bedrava; and step-grandchildren, Zachary and Jordyn. His sister Ann Horan-Young died in 2022.