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Robert Harrison, PhD |
St Petersburg, Fla — Robert Joseph Harrison, known affectionately to his many friends and family as "Cap’n Bob," died August 18 at his St Petersburg, Fla, home at the age of 81.
Harrison was born November 22, 1928 in Anthony, Kan, to his parents Joseph Elwin Harrison and Viola Hamilton Harrison (Duncan). His younger sister Nancy (Lippert) and Bob had step-father Leroy Duncan who was an important influence in their lives. On March 16, 1952 Bob married Maurine Beth Ramsey in Wichita, Kan. They had three children; Steven born in Columbus, Kan; Threse born in Birmingham, Ala; and Andrew born in Evanston, Ill. Harrison moved his family to Miami in 1961 and Coral Gables in 1962.
A graduate from Wichita High School in 1947, he received a bachelor’s degree from University of Wichita in logopedics in 1951 and from Northwestern University a PhD in audiology in 1962. In his long and varied career, Harrison served in the US Army as co-founder and director of Speech and Hearing Clinic at Fitzsimons Army Hospital, Denver; Chief ENT and Operation Room Technician for European Theater Auditory Screening Center; ENT and Operation Room Technician for European Theater Auditory Screening Center, Cherokee County Community High School, Columbus, Kan; director Speech and Hearing Clinic, Instructor of Audiology, Clinical Audiologist department at Medical College of Alabama; director, Audiology Clinic University of Miami School of Medicine, assistant professor of Surgery, University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences; adjunct associate professor at the Department of Speech, Professor and University of Miami School of Medicine, professor, Speech and Hearing Sciences, Chief, Division of Audiology Speech Pathology.
Harrison is survived by his wife Maurine of Coral Gables, Fla, sister Nancy Lippert of Midwest City, Okla, son Steven Harrison and wife Karen of Laguna Hills, Calif, daughter Threse and husband Gene of South Pasadena, Fla, and son Andrew Harrison and wife Aimee of Watauga, Tex. Grandchildren are grandson Matthew Harrison of Irvine, Calif, granddaughters, Sophia Harrison of La Jolla, Calif, Kaitlyn Harrison and Ashley Harrison of Watauga, Texas. Capt’n Bob also regarded the Reilly children as family; Beth, Jim, Tom, and wife Lynn, Mary, (deac), Kathy, Kevin, Michael and wife Andrea, and Peter. Robert is preceded in death by his parents.
"Cap’n Bob" loved his grandchildren and was very proud of them. Time spent with them was very special; sharing Matthew’s graduation from USC this past May, attending Family Weekend at MIT with Sophia, and enjoying soccer games, swimming and sightseeing with Kaitlyn and Ashley in Texas. He loved boating and entertained family and friends in the beautiful waters of Key Biscayne and the Florida Keys on boats “White Noise”, “La Contessa” and “Insatiable”. He was a great fisherman and skipper despite having his houseboat burn and sink on Biscayne Bay, losing his way to Bimini requiring an at-sea rescue, and another incident where he collided with a dredge. These were not accidents to Bob but experience. Until his death Cap’n Bob was still boating on a gift from Michael and Andrea Reilly to him, daughter Threse and son-in-law Gene. Bob’s most recent trip on the “Friendship” was a weekend in Bradenton, Fla, this past Father’s day.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
Donations may be made in his name to:
The Prometheus Institute: http://theprometheusinstitute.org
Easter Seals: http://www.easterseals.com
The American Heart Institute: www.americanheart.org/
All Nations Global Discipleship Ministry, 6860 Gulfport Blvd. Box 840, South Pasadena, FL 3370
SOURCE: Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home
