Robert J. Harrison

Harrison, Robert J., 91, formerly of Harrington Park and Westwood, NJ passed away peacefully on Wed. August 29th, 2018. Son of the late Joseph P. and Marion (nee Keane) Harrison and brother of the late Donald Harrison. Robert was born in the Bronx, NY and educated in the Jesuit tradition. He began college at the age of 16 and received his B.S. in Business Administration from the College of the Holy Cross. He grew up during the Great Depression and was a teenager when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Drafted into the Army at the age of 18, he served in occupied Japan. Honorably discharged as a Sergeant, he would rise to 2nd Lieutenant and be given two more Honorable Discharges from the Army reserves. That was just the beginning of his lifetime of public service. He was Mayor of Harrington Park, Captain of the Ambulance Corps, Town Councilman, Red Cross CPR Instructor, NJ State Certified Court Mediator, hospital volunteer and longtime docent at Ellis Island in his "spare" time. All while raising nine children with his wife, Joan (nee Drake), and running the family business, Harbro Church Arts, Inc., to which he devoted 70 years! Their large brood credits Bob and Joan with teaching them the value of education, the joy of humor, the necessity of questioning authority, the importance of contributing to your community, to always exercise your right to vote, the appreciation of faith, the insistence of only owning mutts and the honor of taking care of aging family members. Joan left us in 2005 and Bob has now joined her and their son, Phil. Bob is survived by his daughters Virginia Hall, Cathy Mutascio, Judy, Lisa and Nancy Harrison; his sons Kevin, Gregg and Todd Harrison; their spouses Gary, Patty, Patti, Michael, Andrea, Tim, Derek, Tim and Jeannette; his 15 grandchildren and spouses Brian and Gill, Courtney and Matt, Kelly and Michael, Brent and Lexi, Rob and Cathi, Kate, Steve, Bryan, Kyle, Malcolm, Madeline, Sean, Julia, Tyler and Noah; his great-grandchild Kayla as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Cremation was private. The family will receive guests at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Rd., Westwood, NJ on Sunday, September 16th from 2-5PM followed by a memorial service at 5PM. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a favorite charity or hospice in Bob’s name.