Obituary of John F Harrison Sr.
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John F Harrison departed this earth on January 20 2009 after a long illness.
On August 16 1919 "Jack" was born in Jersey City NJ to Hazel (Stone) and Burchard Hayes Harrison. a merchant . Shortly after his arrival he made his first trip to visit his Grandparents at there summer home in Mt Tabor.
Both his Grandfathers were merchants, John Stone of New York was a green grocer in the Greenwich Village section of the City. Rutherford Burchard Hayes Harrison of Jersey City and Mt Tabor was general manager of Seaman Brothers, New York, importers and distributors of White Rose Tea in the United States.
He attended grade school in Jersey City, as well as Mt Tabor School. He graduated from Dickenson High School in Jersey City, where during the 1937 track and field season he jumped 19' 3" in the broad jump, a school record.
He was the King of Indian Lake, Denville, in the summer of 1940.
He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on October 2 1940 and was stationed at Langley Field Va on Dec 7 1941 when the call went out to "return to quarters". He shipped out for New Guinea and Australia, and participated in action until September of 1945. During a return visit to Australia in 1991 he was made an honorary member of the Australia- New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was also an active participant in a WWII reunion group called the "Savage Six."
1946 was a banner year for Jack as he married the love of his life, Nora Tonking, and began a 35 year career with L Bamberger & Co in Newark and later in Morristown. He was also an active member and a former member of the Board of Governors of Mt Tabor Country Club where his membership lasted 58 years. During the 1960's he also volunteered as Treasurer of the Mt Tabor Library Association.
He is predeceased by his parents and a brother William.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years Leonora Tonking Harrison, his sons John of Mt Tabor, Bill and his wife Clarissa of Buena Park, California and their son Nicolas Hayes Harrison.
John's funeral service will be conducted from Norman Dean Home for Services 16 Righter Ave., Denville, NJ, www.normandean.com, (please light a candle in memory of John on web site) on Monday January 26th at 11:30AM interment at Denville Cemetery. Relatives and friends will be received on Sunday January 25th from 2-4 and 7-9PM. In lieu of flowers donations to the Mt. Tabor Country Club Ridgewood Ave., Mt. Tabor, NJ 07878.
