John H. Harwood II, 74

Washington, D.C. - John H. Harwood II, 74, of Washington, D.C., died September 24, 2019 from pancreatic cancer.

John leaves his wife Corbin Crews Harwood; a daughter, Clare Harwood; a son, Timothy Harwood (wife Laura Tomasko), and a granddaughter, Emma Harwood, all of Washington, DC. He also leaves a sister, Nancy Smith, of North Falmouth, Mass., and a sister-in-law, Peggy Harwood of Fairfield, Conn. A brother, Timothy H. Harwood, predeceased John in 2006.

John lived life purposefully, responsibly, fairly and honestly. He epitomized trustworthiness. His loyalty was unchecked. John loved his family and friends openly and without reservation. He loved his country far beyond lip service.

Son of the late Sydney and Janice (Butler) Harwood, John was born and raised in Worcester, Mass. He graduated from Phillips Academy Andover, class of 1963, and from Harvard College, class of 1967, cum laude.

John joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967. As a green second lieutenant, John served as an infantry platoon commander in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. For his 13-month combat tour in the DMZ, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V and the Purple Heart for his courageous service. John joined the Marines, not because he supported the war, but because he thought it unfair that those with privilege could avoid service when others could not. That commitment to social justice defined John's life.

Mustering from the Marine Corps, John earned a law degree from Columbia Law School. In 1975, he joined the Washington law firm Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering, now WilmerHale, becoming a partner in 1981 and retiring in 2007. John and family relocated for three years from Washington to Brussels, Belgium, in 1990 to establish a European Union law and regulation practice for the law firm.

Always sensitive to the sacrifices of military service, John served for 20 years on the board of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, five years as chair. NVLSP provides free legal services for tens of thousands of veterans to receive the help and benefits they are entitled to. In 2016, NVLSP honored John with the Sen. Daniel Inouye Award for his leadership.

Much of John's heart was in Westport Harbor, Mass., where he was happiest with his family playing good tennis, so-so golf and salty sailing. He revered Buzzards Bay and served on the board of and provided legal counsel to the Buzzards Bay Coalition preserving the bay.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 19, at the National Cathedral, Washington. Donations may be made to the National Veterans Legal Services Program https://www.nvlsp.org/contribute/donate-online or to the Campaign Legal Center, a non-partisan organization that makes the American political process accessible to all citizens, at campaignlegalcenter.org.

For Massachusetts friends, John's family will be receiving at their Westport home from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct.12.

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

Published by Worcester Telegram & Gazette from Oct. 3 to Oct. 6, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for John Harwood

6 Entries

Peter H Gleason

October 26, 2019

I never saw John after we left college in June of 1967, but I was able follow his admirable professional progress through the ensuing years in the alumni reports that were written every five years or so.
At Harvard we saw each other regularly living as we did in the same house and having the same tutor.
We from time to time joined in revelry. We travelled around with yeasty adolescent abandon. I remember
one particularly fine Spring day when we drove down to Acoaxet, Mass. excitedly charged by the lengthening daylight and the mild temperatures. The durability of my recollections of John which have survived for half a century without contact foster the hope of immortality.

Andrew DePodwin

October 20, 2019

One of the best

Chrissy Silveira

October 17, 2019

Please accept my heartfelt condolences. I worked with John for several years at Wilmer, loved his wry sense of humor and dedication to veterans.

Bill Funk

October 10, 2019

I have known John since summer camp in our pre-teen years, and we were classmates at Harvard. Like John (and not like many others), I also joined the military after Harvard for much the same reasons, although my service was much easier than his. We've kept in touch from time to time over the years, and I last saw him at our 50th Harvard Reunion. He was a great guy. I am so sorry at his passing. So many will miss him.

Philip Anker

October 7, 2019

I wanted to express my deep sympathies. I joined Wilmer Cutler in October 1983 and am still with the firm. Over the years, first while I was an associate working under John and then as his law partner, he was an incredible mentor. Smart, witty, insightful. But, more than that, he was a wonderful, caring person who helped me and countless other more junior lawyers. Since he left the firm, I have missed his good counsel, humor and wisdom. I hope you can remember all the good times. I remember many, and they put a smile on my face even in this sad time.

N. S.

September 29, 2019

My deepest sympathy to the family of John Harwood 11. May you be comforted in knowing that our Heavenly Father cares for you. He will give you strength and courage to cope with your grief. Psalm 94:17-19

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