Joseph Bernard Harris, Jr.

Joseph Bernard Harris, Jr. “Joe”, of Finksburg, MD, died on December 17 after a long illness. Joe was born on October 7, 1944 to Annette Sudbrook Harris and Joseph Bernard Harris, Sr. in Baltimore. Joe attended St. Cecilia and Mt. St. Joseph High School in Irvington, graduating in 1962. Joe received his B.S. from University of MD College Park; an M.S. from Towson State College, and later in life earned a J.D. from University of Baltimore. Joe’s teaching career began in 1967 at several private schools including Arch Bishop Curley and his alma mater Mt. St. Joseph High School, where he taught numerous science courses including his beloved Chemistry; then onto Baltimore County Public Schools in 1972 where he taught for 47 years. Joe also enjoyed teaching Chemistry and Business Law for over 30 years at Catonsville and Carroll Community Colleges. One of his accomplishments in education was also creating the dual credit program at Owings Mills High School, where hundreds of students earned science college credits while in high school. In addition to serving as an internal coordinator for Middle States Accreditation, he assisted in writing several publications for BCPS over the years and led related workshops. Joe enjoyed coaching high school wrestling and baseball for many years, where he always claimed that sports was “life in miniature”. As a young teacher at Arch Bishop Curley, he proudly led the wrestling team to their first winning season. Joe’s favorite quote from Alfred North Whitehead was “There is only one subject matter for education and that is life and all of its manifestations.” He’d say the best part of his day was always the students, watching them gain confidence in their abilities and teaching them to critically think. Serving as a seasonal police officer in Ocean City, MD for two summers, he loved the ocean and the chance to “walk the boards” many summer nights and enjoy the camaraderie of his fellow officers. He taught hundreds of children and adults to swim when employed by numerous swim clubs in his early days, as well as senior lifesaving. Hobbies included scuba diving, camping, weight lifting, steaming crabs, riding his motorcycle, and his prized vegetable garden (from age 9 on up), where he was known for the biggest and tastiest tomatoes around. For him, the garden was more than growing healthy food, it was his gym, playground and chapel. Above all, Joe’s priority was his family. He referred to his children as his gold bullion, although to him they were more precious than gold. In addition to his daughter Joanne, he and his wife Claudia, married for 42 years, had twin sons Luke and Zach who graduated from Owings Mills High School while he was teaching there. While Joe’s high school notion of becoming a Xaverian Brother didn’t materialize, his faith in “the God of his understanding” remained intact, although he admitted for a season he “benched God”. His favorite story in the gospel of Matthew was always “whatever you do to the least of these; you do unto Me”. He and Claudia were members of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Highland. He is survived by his wife Claudia (nee Gempp); children Joanne Milani (Mike); Luke Harris; Zachary Harris (Tara); grandchildren Michael Milani (pre-deceased); Jeffrey Milani; Deborah Milani; Andrew Milani; great-granddaughter Reagan Milani; dear in-laws Brenda and Craig English; many loving nieces and nephews and families; and special family friends, among them dear friend Brandon Needel.  Memorial services are scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 3:00PM at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 12430 Scaggsville Road, Highland, Maryland 20777 . The Jeffrey N. Zumbrun Funeral Home, 6028 Sykesville Road, Eldersburg, Maryland is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Sympathies may be expressed in the form of contributions to Joe’s favorite charities St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org or Boys Town, www.donors.boystown.org. Online condolences may be made to www.jnzumbrunfuneralhome.com

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