Obituary of Robert Harris

Robert J. Harris, a man who loved his family, music, and his Lord Savior Jesus Christ, passed away after a lengthy illness at his home on Monday afternoon, March 21, 2016. He was 88 years old. Bob was born and raised in Cambridge, the son of the late Annie and Ernest William Harris. He was double promoted in school and thus graduated at the age of 16 from Rindge Technical High School. He enlisted in the Navy days was he was only 17 years old and served as a Fireman First Class during the final year of WW II. After the war, he took a job as a messenger at Harvard Trust Company. Over the next 40 years he rose to coin guy, Teller, Head Teller, Manager, Branch Manager, and Training Manager. He was the Branch Manager of the Harvard Trust in Waverly Square, Waltham. He was great with numbers, but more importantly as all his customers, family and friends knew, Bob had a special way of being able to connect with others. He was a people person and really cared about others. He was simply 'a very nice, honorable man.' Why would you want to bank anywhere else? When you talk about Bob, you have to include his faith and singing. He served as the church soloist at the Church of the Open Bible and Fellowship Bible Church where he professed and deepened his faith. Accompanied by his longtime friend, John Sterling, he sang on Sundays, at weddings and funerals, and all the holidays services. He would often say; “He was born, He sang, and He was Born again.” He also sang in a quartet called Fisherman Gospel Quartet where he sang Baritone. The quartet sang all over, for a wide variety of faiths and churches. In his final days, his family played his favorite hymns and music to give him comfort. Bob was a loving and devoted husband. He was a supportive and encouraging father and grandfather. When his children were growing up, he purchased a cottage in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They would spend the summer enjoying the beach and spending time as a family. After rehabilitating the cottage, he sold it and used the profits to buy a vacation property in Wells, Maine. The family enjoyed many years vacationing on the shores of Maine. When not with his family, Bob would was a 'handy-man' for friends and neighbors. It was nice extra income, but more importantly Bob enjoyed the opportunities to share his stories and experiences. He was a very active member of the Kiwanis in Arlington and was Past President. He was a member of the Rotary Club in Groton for many years. Bob served his family, his community, and his God. He was a man of love and song, and his memory and melody with will continue to play on. Bob was the loving husband of Ruth A. (Wood) Harris. He was the loving father of Audrey Zwicker of Woburn and Stephen Harris of Amesbury. He was predeceased by his siblings; Dorothy King and Ernest W. Harris, Jr. Bob was the proud grandfather of Wendy K. Zwicker of Lunenburg and Kerry L. Zwicker-Flynn & her husband Kevin of Concord. A visitation will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Saturday, March 26 from 9 to 10:30am. A service will follow at 10:30 at the funeral home. Interment in Woodbrook Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bob’s name may be made to the New England Center and Home for Veterans, Advancement Office, 3rd Floor, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108 or www.nechv.org.