Deceased December 2, 1999
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In Memory
We have the enormously sad task to report that our roommate and friend, Isaac Harris, died suddenly on Dec. 8, 1999, in Panama City, Fla. At the time of his death, Isaac was a research physicist with the U.S. Naval Research Center in Panama City, Fla.
We learned of Isaac’s death nearly a week after his burial. His mother, after retrieving Isaac’s effects, was finally able to locate us. As his mother reported to us, Isaac was buried on the anniversary of his own father’s death. We were especially saddened that we were not with Isaac’s family in their final tribute to him. He had been such a vital part of our lives in college and for a long time after we graduated. Isaac was in both our weddings, and we saw each other regularly for several years. But as it too often happens, we were less and less in touch with him in recent years, even though we always asked of him whenever we spoke or saw each other. We nevertheless remember him lovingly.
Isaac came to Amherst from Darien, Ga., by way of the George School in Newton, Pa. He also had been an ABC (A Better Chance) Fellow at Dartmouth. Almost immediately upon coming to Amherst, we became fast friends with Isaac Harris. Along with Norman Williams ’74, we lived with Isaac during our junior and senior years at the College. If we tell it accurately, we lived with Isaac for three years.
Isaac was a member of KT, and in our sophomore year, he lived at KT, which, you may remember, was on the hill, far from the main part of campus. That year the two of us lived in Valentine, so Isaac appropriated our suite as his “townhouse,” where he would camp out between classes, laboratories and meals. KT served as his evening sleeping quarters only, because he routinely could be found napping on the couch in the front room of our Valentine suite.
Isaac was a kind, gentle, impish, fun-loving soul, who also worked very hard to become an accomplished scientist. He spent many, many long hours working in the physics laboratories of Merrill. That passion led him to Brown University, where he earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in physics. He taught both at Brown and Rhode Island before he moved to Panama City, Fla., to work with the U.S. Naval Research Center.
Isaac was dedicated to his studies, which required that he spend really long hours in the science laboratories. Yet he was able to acquire a large circle of friends, who valued him for his intelligence, his warmth and his wonderfully generous view of people. He, in truth, was one of the kindest people—and best bid whist players—we ever met.
In addition to his three roommates from Amherst and the host of friends he made at the College, Isaac is survived by his devoted mother, Mrs. Willie Mae Baker Harris, his stepfather, three sisters, a brother and several other relatives.
His death saddens us beyond description. It came much too soon to one so rare and selfless. We loved him. We mourn his loss. We will cherish his memory.
George Johnson ’73
Paul Murphy ’73