George Sellers Harris

HARRIS

GEORGE SELLERS HARRIS

George Sellers Harris, age 92, died peacefully in his home on July 1, 2023, after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. George was born on January 1, 1931, in Quincy, Massachusetts to Frank Ephraim Harris and Wilhelmina Harris née Sellers. He attended Milton Academy and Harvard University before marrying JoAnn Jackson in 1954. The newlyweds moved to Turkey, where George embarked on a distinguished career as a diplomat and academic. This adventure created many lasting friendships and fostered a family relationship with Turkey that has endured for four generations. He received his PhD in History of the Middle East from Harvard in 1957 and served in the U.S. Embassy in Ankara until 1962. George spent the bulk of his career in the Office of Analysis for Near East and South Asia, INR, Department of State until he retired as its Director in 1995. He was the recipient of the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive in 1982 and 1988, and the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive in 1992.

In addition to his government career, George was a Professorial Lecturer at the School for Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University and at George Washington University. He was also a Research Fellow at Bilkent University in Ankara and at American University in Washington, DC. He wrote several books about Turkey and the Turkish-American relationship, including The Origins of Communism in Turkey (1967), Troubled Alliance: Turkish-American Problems in Historical Perspective 1945-1971 (1972), Turkey: Coping with Crisis (1985), The Communists and the Kadro Movement: Shaping Ideology in Atatürk's Turkey (2002), and Atatürk's Diplomats (2010).

Upon their return to America in 1962, George and his family settled in Bethesda, Maryland. There they joined Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ, where he was a member for 61 years. George served on many Church Committees and was a devoted participant in church life. In his retirement, George took up marathon running and was proud of his 10-year career as a runner. He also embraced the role of devoted grandfather to Colin Sellers Harris (Calynn) and Margot Straughn Harris, and as the immeasurably proud great-grandfather to Audrey Mei Harris. In addition to his grandchildren and great-granddaughter, he is survived by his two daughters, Barbara Straughn Harris (Scott) and Elizabeth Nell Harris; his younger brother, Arthur Brooks Harris; and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife of 66 years, JoAnn Jackson Harris; his cherished son, George Sellers Harris. Jr.; his older brother, Frank Ephraim Harris, Jr.; and two older half-sisters, Eugenie Harris and Margarita Harris Willingham Conway.

There will be a celebration of George's life on Saturday, July 29, 2023, 2 p.m., at the Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ, 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda, MD 20816. Please view and sign family guestbook at

www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com