Adele HARRISON

HARRISON, Adele On Christmas Eve 2014, Adele Harrison, longtime Sonoma citizen and leader in volunteer-based community work, passed away at age 92 of the long-term complications of a stroke. She died peacefully at home surrounded by family members. Adele was best known to the community for her 30 years as the coordinator of F.I. S.H., an all-volunteer organization that continues to provide food, shelter, clothing, and other services to people in need. Under her leadership F. I. S. H grew to well over 100 volunteers and became a major force in the community while never losing the all-inclusive spirit that Adele imparted to it. She was proud of the fact that F. I. S. H. received constant support from the community, and that it followed her philosophy of not questioning the needs of the people it served. She also helped to found Care-A-Van, a transportation service, and participated in Meals on Wheels and the Vintage House Senior Center. She helped to found and run Sonoma Overnight Support (S. O. S.), an organization that provides a homeless shelter. She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church and once served as its president. In recognition of their contributions to the community, she and her husband Paul were named Alcaldes (honorary mayors) in 1981. An even greater honor came in 2001, shortly after her retirement from F. I. S. H., when the city and school board gave her name to a new school. At the dedication of the Adele Harrison Middle School, then-mayor Ken Brown expressed the hope that her example would inspire Sonoma's students to care about giving to society. Over the years she received hundreds of birthday cards and other tributes from well-wishing middle school students. She was born Adele Gertrude Sohn in 1922, the middle of seven children of Lutheran pastor Otto Sohn and his wife Johanna, and was raised in Flint, Michigan. She graduated from Valparaiso University in 1943 with a bachelors' degree in history. She subsequently attended graduate school in social work at the University of Michigan while also working for the Red Cross home service and an adoption and foster care agency. In 1947 she married World War II Air Force veteran Paul Harrison, who was also from southern Michigan. The couple lived in Detroit while he completed his medical degree and then moved to Sacramento and Santa Rosa for his internship and residency. In 1954 they arrived in Sonoma, where they raised six children; Paul practiced family medicine and, like Adele, was active in civic affairs. He died in 1997 at age 80. Adele's formidable intellect and unsurpassed organizational skills served her well in her volunteer work. She maintained a lifelong passion for studying history, religion, and world affairs. Friends and family fondly remember her graciousness, modesty, and lively interest in other people. Adele is survived by three of her six brothers and sisters: Dorothy Martens of Memphis, Tennessee; Helen Cox of New Richmond, Wisconsin; and Lawrence Sohn of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was predeceased by her siblings Lois Glock of Madison, New Jersey, Grace Freeberg of Claremont, California, and Robert Sohn of Germantown, Tennessee. She is also survived by her six children: Jean Kollantai of Anchorage, Alaska; Barbara Garcia of Gardnerville, Nevada; Don Harrison of Sunnyvale, California; Jim Harrison of Cottage Grove, Oregon; David Harrison of Boulder Creek, California; and Susan Harrison of Davis, California; and by her six sons- and daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Her family is deeply grateful to Liku Vavataga and her fellow caregivers, whose skilled care and loving friendship gave Adele much happiness in her last years. A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 10. Reception to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to F. I. S. H. (PO Box 507, Sonoma, 95476), or to S. O. S., Faith Lutheran Church, or the charity of one's choice.