Sophia Prinz-Harris

Dr. Sophia Prinz Harris passed away on December 26, 2020. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, and is survived by her husband Dr. James Harris and her brother Edik Plate. Prior to settling in Upper Arlington, Sophia was born in Paris on March 4th, 1946 before her family moved to Moscow. Sophia earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Moscow State University at age 24 before immigrating to the United States, where she truly lived the American Dream. Despite arriving with $113 to her name and knowing only one word of English, Sophia worked for five years at Chemical Abstracts until she discovered gemology, her true passion and calling in life. After pursuing studies through the Gemological Institute of America, Sophia started her own business in 1982, Diamonds, Pearls, and Jade. Beginning from a single store at the Ohio Center, Sophia worked tirelessly to grow the business to five Columbus area stores by 1996. Always innovative in her approaches, Sophia put an emphasis on jade and pearls, and used targeted radio advertising to reach her customers. In 1997 Sophia transitioned away from conventional storefronts to an appointment-only business model, which she and her husband Jim ran together with great success for the following 23 years. Known for her poise, elegance, taste, style, warmth, hospitality, charm, and elaborate appetizer spreads, Sophia’s dinner banquets served as catalysts for the formation of innumerable friendships and lifelong memories. Sophia’s generosity drove her to make substantial philanthropic gifts to many organizations over the decades she lived in Upper Arlington, with an emphasis on donations to local hospitals and schools.

A celebration of Sophia’s life will be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Sophia can be sent to Kobacker House, the American Cancer Society, or the Columbus House Rabbit Society.