Harry James Bigham

Age 89, died on Monday, November 23rd at his home in Jupiter, Florida. He exited life gently and at full-stride after a typically energetic day full of activities.

Harry is survived by his wife Betty Bigham of 62 years, and six children: Dr. William J. Bigham (USN Retired); Dr. Harry J. Bigham, Jr.; Michael F. Bigham; Janet Bigham Bernstel; Brian J. Bigham and Jeanne Aman. He also leaves behind a gaggle of thirteen devoted grandchildren; William Bigham; Caitlin Bigham, Emily Bigham; Michael Pl Bigham; Julie Bigham; Grace Bigham; Cabot Bigham; Beatrice Bigham; Marissa Bernstel; Connor Bernstel; Oliver Aman; Bridget Aman; and Tess Aman. He also leaves behind a beloved son-in-law Maurice Bernstel; and three beloved daughters-in-law; Patti Bigham; Dr. Anne Savarese; and Linda Bigham. A fourteenth grandchild Charlotte Bigham preceded her grandfather in death; they are reunited now.

Harry is a veteran of WWII, where he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Italy during the war.

Harry grew up in Philadelphia, PA where he was born on July 8, 1926. He was one of four children born to William J. and Emma Bigham. Losing his two brothers early in life, one to trauma and the other to illness, he is survived by his sister Dorothy Bigham. Harry's father, William or "Bill", emigrated from Scotland at the turn of the last century; Bill was a coal miner who then went on to become a self-taught and well respected mechanic.

Harry's life was transformed by the Second World War. He was proud of having served as an apprentice at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, working aboard the battleship New Jersey alongside his father. He later enlisted in the US Army Air Corps to serve his country at the age of 18. Although most of his service was in Italy, he was fond of telling the story of how he was assigned to give tours to GI's aboard Hitler's private yacht on the Rhine River after the war's end. During his tenure in the service, he completed his high school degree.

Following his honorable discharge from military service, Harry enjoyed the bachelor's life of a young veteran in the "big city" of Philadelphia. Fond of describing the nightlife and carefree times, he would then speak in glowing terms of the night he met the love of his life, the beautiful Elizabeth "Betty" Moore. Betty was from Conshohocken, a sleepy little mill town on the banks of the Schuylkill River. There was "something very special about her" Harry would often say. They were married and moved to a small duplex in "Conshy". Smitten with love, wrestling with the shock of now living in the "suburbs", and already surrounded by three children under the age of four, Harry got busy with his business endeavors.

After the war he founded a successful food service business before trying his hand at selling life insurance, where he excelled. He worked for John Hancock for over 25 years before retiring in 1983. During his tenure at John Hancock, Harry earned the notable distinction s the number one salesman in the country early in his career. He was promoted repeatedly, which meant multiple family moves; from Pennsylvania to Falls Church, VA and later to Dix Hills, NY where he served as a District Manager for Long Island City, NY. His final assignment before retirement was to serve as a District Manager for Lancaster, PA.

He attributed his gift at sales to his early formative experiences working with his colorful grandfather "Pop Tinney", a respected "huckster" in Philadelphia before and during the Great Depression. After dropping out of his inner city High School despite strong academic ability, Harry went "door to door" selling produce for his grandfather where he discovered his talent for sales, refined his already keen with and developed his infectious sense of humor.

After retiring from John Hancock, Harry and Betty moved to Annapolis, MD where he founded and operated a successful business selling cleaning products to local establishments. As always, he made many friends along the way.

In 2007, Harry and his wife Betty moved to Jupiter, Florida full time where they enjoyed being close to their daughters, Janet and Jeanne and their respective families. Harry and Betty were active members of the River Bend Country Club where he played golf regularly, including a round just a few days before his passing. Always an energetic person, Harry never let the oppressive heat of summer in South Florida keep him from his beloved golf. His friends at River Bend became an important part of his latter life. He was particularly fond of his fellow ROMEOS, a colorful group of avid golfers.

In addition to his passion for golf, Harry had a longstanding interest in landscaping, a love he handed down to his children. While is children were growing up, Harry routinely held "Saturday Work Camps" where his children worked long days in the yard, something he never had while growing up in a row home in Philadelphia. These experiences provided a lifetime of animated stories for the family, but also instilled a strong work ethic at an early age. Just hours before he passed, Harry had been mulching the flower beds of his home in preparation for the upcoming family Thanksgiving dinner. He was also very good with his hands when it came to carpentry and other home remodeling skills. He could do more with a hammer, broken pencil, rusty chisel and an old steak knife than most professionally trained men can do with a garage full of gleaming tools.

Although proud of his military service and his years of corporate work, Harry seemed to be at least as proud of the way he was able to enjoy a lengthy retirement. "Work is overrated" was among his many humorous quips, as he and Betty were yet again making plans to travel to a new, beautiful destination. harry enjoyed traveling the country to visit his children and their families, as well as the rest of the world. His passport was well decorated with foreign stamps, having visited Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America among other places. He not only routinely encouraged his children to "enjoy your lives", he lived it by example.

A viewing will be held this Sunday, November 29th from 5 to 7 PM at Aycock-Riverside Funeral Home. A Mass will be held in his honor this Monday, November 30th at 10 am, St. Jude Catholic Church. Harry's final resting place will be in a family plot in Conshohocken, PA, the town where Harry and Betty first began raising their family, and the ancestral home of the extended family of Betty "Moore" Bigham.

Arrangements entrusted to Aycock-Riverside Funeral Home.