Edward Ridgway Harris, 90, of Rochester, Minnesota died peacefully Tuesday, May, 14th at Mayo Clinic Charter House in Rochester, from complications of Multiple Myeloma.
Jed, as he was known by friends and family, was born on November 10th, 1928 in Rochester, New York where he was also raised. He spent many of his childhood summers at Canandaigua Lake, in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. After graduating from Millbrook School in 1948, he enrolled at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and later tried his vocation as a monastic novice at the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1951, he enlisted in the Navy as a radar controller on carrier-based airplanes during the Korean War. After his service in the Navy he returned to college, enrolling at Columbia University where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in 1956.
He then moved to Cuba where he lived and worked for a company growing kenaf - a plant he joked “looked like marijuana but was far less profitable”. In 1959, Castro assumed power in Cuba and conditions there worsened. Two years later Jed fled Cuba, attempting to move the farming operations to both Haiti and Guatemala. By 1962, he had returned to the United States to live in Savannah, Georgia and begin his career at IBM as a systems engineer.
In 1964, Jed married Emily Van Voorhis, also of Rochester, NY, who over the next several years gave birth to their four children, Gina, Tal, Stephen and Jonathan. In 1969, Jed and Emily moved their young family to Rochester, Minnesota where they raised their children and Jed continued his career at IBM as a computer programmer in research and development. Jed and Emily enjoyed music, theater, travel, and hosting their friends and family at their home. The celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary last March, and are very thankful for their six grandchildren.
Shortly after moving to Rochester, Jed and Emily joined Calvary Episcopal Church where they have been active ever since. Jed became an advocate for the revival of the diaconate in the Diocese of Minnesota and on January 17th 1977 Jed was ordained an Episcopal deacon. Both Jed and Emily were active in the Episcopal Cursillo spiritual renewal movement.
In 1987, Jed retired from IBM and went on to volunteer as a hospice and prison chaplain. He was also active as an actor at the Rochester Repertory Theater. Jed was well read and had ongoing lifelong interests in ethics, psychology, arts, biology, religion, and technology. He chose to donate his brain to Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s research. He had an eye for beauty in nature and had much affection for the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. He loved three-dimensional puzzles and amused many with his quick wit. The family wishes to thank the 4th floor Supportive Living Center of Charter House for their love and care of Jed during his last years.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s research or Calvary Episcopal Church.
A funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2019 at Calvary Episcopal Church, Rochester, MN, with The Rev. Beth Royalty officiating.
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