Pat Bruce Harris

Pat Bruce Harris
September 4, 1946 - March 22, 2023
Pat Harris of Vero Beach, FL and Wilton, CT, passed away on March 22 at the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, following a brief illness. Born in Logan, West Virginia on September 4, 1946 to the late Robert Bruce and Margaret (Goodwin) Harris, Pat graduated from Logan High School and Marshall University in Huntington, WV.
Pat spent his business career as a sales and marketing executive, starting out at Sears Roebuck in Charleston, WV, Cumberland, MD, and Buffalo, New York. He then spent many years in the newspaper industry as Advertising Director for the Gannett Rochester Newspapers, Vice President of Gannett Media Sales in New York, and VP Eastern Sales for the national newspaper USA Today. He later became Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing for the in-store marketing firm ActMedia in Connecticut, and closed his career as CEO of internet promotions pioneer IGain.
Pat was happiest spending time with his family, especially on the water. Pat sailed catamarans on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and trimarans on Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. He was an early adopter of windsurfing and continued to windsurf well into his seventies. A past commodore of the Norwalk Yacht Club and a member of the New York Yacht Club, Pat was dedicated to exposing others to the joy, confidence, and resilience developed through sailing. For the past eight years, Pat served as the Chairman of the Board for the Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County (YSF), whose mission is to provide Indian River County with educational, recreational and competitive sailing programs for all ages in a safe environment. Additionally at YSF, Pat taught adult sailing, managed regattas on the Indian River Lagoon, and worked with other volunteers in the maintenance shop.
Pat is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Julia with whom he raised three devoted daughters Mimi (Erich) Steadman, Emily, and Erica (Mat) Nardone. Pat is also survived by dear sisters Shawn Chillag and Robin Harris, and six cherished grandchildren who lovingly called him Pop.
In lieu of flowers, friends may consider a gift in memory of Pat to the Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County or to a charity of their choice. A private family memorial service will be held this summer in Connecticut.