Dorothy Harris, an officer for more than 20 years of the Village Reform Democratic Club, died May 10 at age 85.
She was a longtime resident of 25 Fifth Ave.
A scholar and educator, she received an education degree from Hunter College and a library science degree from St. John’s University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and first in her class at both schools, according to her husband, Arthur Harris.
Dorothy Harris was a librarian for the New York City Board of Education. She ran the city’s first multimedia library at John Bowne High School in Flushing, Queens, selected the books for high schools and successfully prevailed against censors, according to her husband.
“Dorothy, my wife for almost 58 years, died as she lived, courageously and unyielding,” Arthur Harris said. “She leaves a legacy of courage and dedication both to education and our family.
“She was not so much an unbeliever but indifferent and questioning,” he added. “Any religious holidays that were celebrated, were celebrated as family reunions.”
Dorothy was proud of their son, Michael, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Michael and his wife, the former Julie Pritchard of Wales, England, have two girls, Fiona 7, and Lily, 3. A planned memorial service for Dorothy Harris will be held in or after July.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, 80 Maiden Lane, 21st floor, New York, NY 10038. For more information, call 212-453-9500, e-mail at info@metcouncil.org or visit https://www.metcouncil.org .
