James W. (Pat) Harrison, 75, died at Cove’s Edge Skilled Nursing Facility, Damariscotta, on Sept. 12 after a long illness.
Born in Chicago, Ill., he was the second child of Mary Agnes and James A. Harrison. His family moved to Philadelphia when he was two months old. He grew up in the Chestnut Hill area of northwest Philadelphia. After attending public grade and high school, he continued his education at Temple University, receiving his B.S. in Physics and later his MBA in Executive Management from Pace University. Pat served two years in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps at Dugway, Utah.
Following his military service, Pat joined the Henkel Group, a large international firm with headquarters in Germany. He began his career at Henkel by doing research and development on products for the metal finishing industry. This work led to responsibility for all R&D and technology licensing and his promotion to a vice-presidency. In 1981, he relocated to Burlington, Iowa to run a recently acquired company providing service to the food processing industry. After four years, he was reassigned to the U.S. headquarters in Detroit and was made responsible for all sales, marketing and the international food division. In 1995, he accepted assignment to run the Asian division of Henkel with headquarters in Singapore. His last assignment was as President of the adhesive and surface coating division located in Madison Heights, Mich.
After retirement to New Harbor in 2000, Pat was able to devote extensive time to local volunteer organizations. He served as President of the Bristol Area Lions and the Friends of Colonial Pemaquid. He was a volunteer with the Service Corps of Retired Executives in Augusta and helped found a chess club at the Bristol Consolidated School and the South Bristol Elementary School. Pat always found time for his favorite hobby, playing the piano.
Pat is survived by wife Doris L. Harrison of New Harbor; son, David C. Harrison and wife Debra of San Francisco, Cal.; daughter, Carolyn H. Baskett and husband Lamont of Columbia, Md.; son, James F. Harrison and wife Joy of Cupertino, Cal.; grandchildren, Katherine Mae Harrison, Sara Lyn Harrison, Jayson Theodore Baskett, Julia Grace Baskett, Dorothy Martha Harrison and Penelope Alexandra Harrison; sister, Mary Ellen Piez and husband William of Alexandria, Va.; and brother, W. Henry Harrison and wife Sue of Philadelphia, Penn.
A family celebration of Pat’s life is planned.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Bristol Area Lions Foundation, in honor of the James W. Harrison Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 11, New Harbor, ME 04554.
