Fairport: Charles E. Harris, Jr , 85, of Fairport a former Director of Marketing Promotions and Services at Eastman Kodak, died peacefully in his sleep on February 14 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Known widely throughout life as “Charlie” for his gregarious nature, he was born in Philadelphia on May 10, 1929, the second of five children born to Cecilia and Charles E. Harris, a pharmacist.
Raised in Montclair, N. J., Charlie spent his teenage summers working as a caddy and lifeguard on the Jersey shore. After graduating with a B. A. from Seton Hall University in 1951, he followed his dream by enlisting in the U. S. Air Force where he became an F-84F jet fighter pilot during the Korean War. Discharged as a captain, he was employed in 1957 by Recordak Corporation, a Kodak subsidiary in New Jersey before joining the parent company in Rochester in 1966.
An executive in promotions and corporate programs, a role he thoroughly enjoyed, no one was ever a stranger to Charlie in Rochester or anywhere he went on his frequent travels across the country for Kodak. His engaging smile, infectious laugh and magnetic personality drew people to him at work and at home with his wife Ria and two children, daughter Tippie and son Chuck. A deeply faithful man, he served as a lector and as a Eucharistic minister at his parish church, St. John of Rochester.
Upon retirement in 1986 after 29 years with Kodak, he opened his own marketing company, Charlie Harris & Associates, where he used his promotional skills on behalf of such clients as Cypress Gardens and Sea World. At Sea World, he especially relished flying in the company blimp on publicity trips he arranged across the country.
Charlie was predeceased by two sisters, Cecilia Legan and Margaret Harris. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ria, daughter Tippie (Dr. Steve) Koenig of Morehead, Ky., and son Chuck (Nancy) Harris of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., six grandchildren Corinne and Michael Koenig, Jessica (Chris) Davis, Catherine, Mariah and Natalie Harris, brother James (Yasuko) Harris, sister Florence (John) Gannon, brother-in-law Bruce Legan, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert Boyle and Kathryn Belous-Boyle, many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews as well as dear neighbors and friends. The family will be forever grateful for the compassion and expertise of the U of R Memory Clinic and for the loving care Charlie received at the Highlands of Pittsford.
Friends are welcome to call at THE RICHARD H. KEENAN FUNERAL HOME, 7501 PITTSFORD PALMYRA RD., (Egypt Location) Friday 4-7. Funeral Mass Saturday 11AM at St. John of Rochester. Donations may be made to Lollypop Farm in Charlie’s memory.