Bernard Joseph Harig

Bernie was born in Lackawanna, New York on April 21, 1924. He ws the oldest of four boys born to Bernard Anthony and Loretta Harig (Eagan). His brother Raymond (Bud) preceded Bernie in death. His brother, Jim Harig, lives in San Diego, CA and brother Gerald (Gary) lives in Orchard Park, NY. Bernie still has many family members in the Lackawanna/Buffalo area.

Bernie was married to Mariane Mae White from Crisfield, MD whom he met in Silver Spring, MD after his service in World War II. Mariane passed away in 2011 but in their long marriage they had three children: Clare – married to Stephen Blaine; Timothy Harig - married to Julie Cain; and Christopher Harig married to Sungae Harig. They had five grandchildren. Through Clare and Stephen – Elisha, Jolyce and Galen (who died in 2007) Harig-Blaine. Through Tim and Julie – Bryan and Laurel. Additionally, they have four great grandchildren: Ethan Paul and Lillian Sue (Lilly) Harig-Blaine born to Elisha and his wife Shannon (Browning); and Gwendoline Clare (Gwen) and Michael Hugh O’Neill III born to Jolyce and husband Michael O’Neill, Jr. Bryan and his long-time partner, Dr. Talha Siddiqui live in New York City. Laurel and her husband, Dr. Zulfikar Khan, live in Chicago.

Bernie attended undergraduate college at St. Bonaventure College (now University) a Franciscan school located in Allegheny, NY where he majored in philosophy. Bernie’s Roman Catholic faith was the bedrock of his life. He attended mass weekly at a church until his illness prevented him from doing this and restricted him to participating in mass through televised services. Clare, Tim and Chris all attended Catholic grade and high schools.

After college, Bernie entered the Army and served in General Patton’s 3rd Army as an infantryman. He was also trained in radio communications. Bernie would jokingly say that he “wasn’t in the war long” because during the Battle of the Bulge he was seriously wounded and taken to England for a lengthy recovery.

Bernie returned to the United States and attended Georgetown Law School. Upon graduating, Bernie worked for Allstate Insurance Company for twenty-five years before privately practicing law as a sole practitioner with colleagues Tom Moore and Judge John Kelly in Prince Georges County. He joined Macleay, Lynch, Bernard, Gregg and Attridge where he became a partner. He retired in the early 1990’s.

Aside from his family, Bernie had several “hobbies” that he enjoyed – first among all was sailing and fishing – a love he shared with his adult children and grandchildren. Bernie and Mariane also enjoyed investing in real estate and a large part of their real estate strategy was the purchase, renovation and selling of the various houses they lived in and/or owned. Following this venture, they moved many times and lived in numerous houses and condos in Virginia, Maryland, Florida and South Carolina. Together, Bernie and Mariane enjoyed travel and went to several interesting destinations with friends. Additionally, Bernie was a student artist and was always improving his oil painting of land and seascapes.

Several years after Mariane’s death, Bernie had his final move and building project when he went to live at a retirement community, Leisure Time Park in Bonita Springs, Florida. He made many new friends there and was close to his first cousin, Sally Ann Franz (Hamburg, NY) who also owns a home in Leisure Time Park.

Bernie will be laid to rest in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville, MD with his wife.