John W. Harris ’51

John was born Sept. 21, 1930, to Jean Ferris Harris and Irving Drought Harris. 

He prepared at St. Bernard’s and St. George’s schools. John majored in history, and belonged to Charter.  He was manager of the swimming team and the 150-pound crew and roomed with Paul Bator.

John served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War and was badly wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. In 1954, he and Betsey Brooks were married. He earned a law degree at Harvard and was associated with Dewey Ballantine, practicing law in New York for 10 years. His family bought Stonewall Farm in Dublin, N.H., in 1961, and moved there shortly after.

For years, he and Betsey explored Atlantic waters in their sailboat Perelandra. A member of the Cruising Club of America, he was a recipient of the Transoceanic Pennant and the John Parkinson Trophy. John served on the boards of the Dublin, Cheshire County, and New Hampshire historical societies.

He died Oct. 20, 2014, at home and is survived by Betsey; their children Paul Andrew Harris and Emily Harris Jones; grandchildren Alice, Katherine, and Andrew; sister Elizabeth Harris; and his half-sister, Chantal Morancon.