1937-2018

BRUNSWICK – Donald “Don” Harris, of Brunswick, passed away on Thursday, November 15, 2018 with his family at his side.Don was born in Webster Springs, West Virginia, to Grace and Joseph Harris. He graduated from Webster Springs High School, where he was an outstanding football player. After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force, and was stationed for four years at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, where he served as a weapons instructor. On leaving the Air Force, he worked for the U.S. government in Washington DC and South Korea. After his reassignment to Washington DC, he met Lorene “Lori” Waugh, and they married in 1962.

Don obtained his bachelor’s degree at George Washington University and the University of Maryland. He completed his studies in two and a half years, graduating in 1964 with a degree in history. He was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society.

After college, Don was employed by Chrysler Corporation (Maryland), and The Boeing Company (Seattle), before joining Bath Iron Works, where he worked for 25 years. He left BIW as an international contracts manager. Following BIW, he spent 10 years as a consultant, and negotiated contracts for construction projects in the transportation industry throughout the U.S., including Puerto Rico. His last position was as Group Manager for Contracts at Carter Burgess in Denver, Colorado.

Don was a voracious reader, with an encyclopedic knowledge of history, particularly of the American Civil War. After his retirement, he and Lori enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Don is predeceased by a brother, George Saum, and a sister, Deanna Belt. He is survived by his wife, Lori, his daughter, Anne Hjortshoj and son-in-law Erik Hjortshoj, his son, Samuel Harris, and daughter-in-law Shannon Harris, and his grandchildren Allison and Benjamin Harris. Additionally, he is survived by his brothers, Joseph Harris, Philip Harris, and Paul Harris, and his sisters, Sharon Virgallito, Rebecca Pringle, and Paula Thorn, and a cousin, Jerome Dean, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Donations may be made in Don’s memory to the Maine Parkinson Society, 359 Perry Road, Bangor, ME. A celebration of Don’s life will be scheduled for sometime in 2019.