Harry Victor Cheshire Jr.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Harry “Pappy” Cheshire and Myrtle Etta (McClain) Cheshire in 1922, Harry Victor Cheshire, Jr. led a full and vibrant life spanning nearly a century. His father’s lifelong career in show business surrounded young Harry in childhood with the true Middle America roots of vaudeville, theater and country music during the Roaring 20’s and Great Depression. While “Pappy” would continue on to a long and successful career in radio, television and film, Harry Junior’s natural talent for humor and entertaining would serve him well in his future professional roles as lawyer, corporate executive and civic leader.

With his family often on the move, seeking audiences to entertain throughout the Midwest, Harry was never in the same school for long, but he was gifted, and graduated high school in 1938. That fall, he enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis, where he pursued degrees in both business and law. He was initiated into Sigma Chi Fraternity in 1939, and adopted the fraternity values of Friendship, Justice and Learning as cornerstones of his life. He remained a lifelong supporter of the fraternity, going on to establish the Harry V. Cheshire Scholars Fund and ultimately being named to the Sigma Chi Hall of Fame.

Near the University chapel on campus, he was introduced to Elizabeth “Betty” Sprague whom he would marry in 1943. Betty became Harry’s devoted wife of 57 years until her passing in 2000.

In December of 1942, Harry put his education on hold and enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He became a pilot and one of the elite airmen to fly the vaunted P-38 “Lightning" fighter in the Mediterranean Theater and over the Alps into Europe from his base in southern Italy. Like many in the Greatest Generation, some of the fondest and most intense memories he recounted were inspired during this period of patriotic service. This love of country never waned, and he never missed a chance to fly the Stars and Stripes.

In St. Louis after the War, Harry and Betty had their first son, Stephen. In 1947, they moved to California where their second son, Douglas, was born. Harry began a career with the Auto Club of Southern California (AAA) in 1952. It was a perfect match between a man, dedicated to service with integrity and excellence, and a company whose mission is to serve its members with the highest standards in the industry. He rose to become a policy advisor to mayors, governors and U.S. Presidents on transportation issues at local, state and national levels. He capped an illustrious 35 year career-- the last 14 as president--when he retired in 1987. He continued to serve on the Board of Directors of the Club through 1996, after which he was elected an Honorary Director. In his relentless drive to motivate others, he established the Cheshire Award of Excellence to recognize employees whose dedication to excellence and service inspires fellow employees.

As a leader at the Auto Club, Harry relished his responsibilities and opportunities for community involvement in Southern California. From his earliest days of civic involvement (he even helped create a city - Rolling Hills Estates), to well into his retirement years, Harry was a tireless supporter of organizations which advance health care and research, education, children’s services and the needs of veterans. He loved sponsoring Team USA Olympic athletes in pursuit of their dreams. A former President of the Los Angeles Rotary Club Five, one of the largest in the world, he received frequent accolades, most recently in 2015 by his local Laguna Niguel chapter and Rotary International for his work and philanthropy.

Harry was predeceased by his wife Betty (2000) and his son Stephen (2015). He continues to be loved by his son Doug, his daughter-in-law Caroline and his two cherished grandchildren, Elizabeth and Christopher.

In lieu of flowers, Please donate to a charity of your choice that supports any of those values he held so dear, Education, Justice, Service to Others. A private Celebration of his Life is planned for late February.