Brian Clarke Harris, 79, of the Hideout, Lake Ariel, died Monday at Commonwealth Hospice at Regional Hospital of Scranton. His wife of 19 Ā½ years is the former Marieanne Patricia Vitzakovitch. The couple would have celebrated their 20th Wedding anniversary at Christmastime.
Born in Hong Kong, China on January 5, 1935, he was the Irish twin son of the late Clark and Celia Read Harris. He was a graduate of Scarsdale High School and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Brian fought a courageous battle for the past six months Louie Bodies Dementia and BrittleĀ Diabetes for 45 years. He thanked God every day for each moment throughout his paralyzing illness. He was employed as a financial advisor at Liberty Mutual and after retirement worked as a lifeguard at the Hideout.
A devout Catholic convert, Brian was a member of St. Thomas More Church, Lake Ariel, where he was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus. He had a great passion for the outdoors which included climbing, hiking, skiing and running. He reached the Summit of Majestic Mount Rainer and was the President of the Adirondack Mountain Club. He was personally blessed and embraced by Pope Francis on a recent pilgrimage.
He was preceded in death by his Irish twin brother Thomas.
Also surviving are sons Clarke Harris and his wife Yessica and their children Arden and Franklin and Lt. Read Harris and his children Timothy, Daniel, Jesse, and Caleb all of Utah; a sister Libby Dalion of Michigan; a brother James Harris of California; step-children Stacey Tolkin and children Anthony and Nicole Oliveri, Ashley Newman, Lilly Ann Newman and Heather Tolhik Wayne and her husband Brian K. and their children Joshua, Moriah, Savanah Wayne.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11:00am in St. Thomas More Church 105 Gravity Rd. Lake Ariel.
Friends may call Saturday from 9:00-11:00am in the church.
Cremation will follow the Mass in the Lake Region Crematory at the James Wilson Funeral Home, Lake Ariel.