Robert D. Harrington

"Robert D. Harrington, 83, of 42 Bayon Dr., South Hadley, MA, died at home on Sunday, January 19, 2014. Born in Palmer, MA, on October 1, 1930, Robert Harrington was the son of the late Daniel W. and Mary Cavanaugh Harrington. He graduated from Palmer High School in 1948 and Brown University in 1952 with a B.S. Degree in Engineering. He served for two years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Bob was married for 61 years to Jane Wood Harrington. Surviving besides his beloved wife are three daughters, Patricia A. Harrington-Wydell and her husband Craig Wydell of Cary, IL; Susan J. Ruge of Hinsdale, IL; and Mary E. Harrington and her husband Casey Ravenhurst of Hatfield, MA; and a son, Thomas Robert Harrington and his wife Kathryn of Dallas, TX. He is also deeply missed by his nine grandchildren: Mary, Nicholas, and Shannon Ruge; Johanna, Gretchen, and Daniel Ravenhurst; David and Sarah Harrington; and Adriana Wydell. A brother, William John Harrington, pre-deceased him in 2003. Mr. Harrington retired in 1983 after 31 years as an engineering/operations manager for the former Bethlehem Steel Corporation. He held a variety of positions in Bethlehem's Lackawanna, NY, and Burns Harbor, IN, plants and in the home office in Bethlehem, PA. Later he joined Armstrong World Industries in Lancaster, PA. While with Armstrong he traveled extensively, installing improved maintenance practices in Armstrong plants around the world. He retired from Armstrong in 1996 as Manager of Maintenance Practices. Bob was a Professional Engineer licensed in New York and Indiana. He was also recognized nationally as a speaker on maintenance management subjects and as a member of the Executive Planning Committee of the National Plant Engineering and Maintenance Conference. Bob was active in a variety of civic affairs. He was President of the Hamburg, NY, Junior Chamber of Commerce; a City Councilman in Valparaiso, IN; a member of the Lower Saucon, PA, Planning Commission; a member of the SCORE chapter in Reading, PA; and a member of the choir of Loomis Village in South Hadley, MA, since moving to Loomis Village in 2008. Mr. Harrington was active in the Roman Catholic Church all his life. He served as a lector, on the parish council, and most recently as a member of St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic Church in South Hadley. Friends may gather at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home, on Saturday, January 25, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. to process to a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic Church in South Hadley. Burial will be at the family's convenience in the spring at St. Thomas Cemetery in Palmer, MA. Calling hours will be held on Friday evening from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob's memory may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (www.pdf.org), 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018, or to Loomis Village Friendship Fund, 246 N. Main St., South Hadley, MA 01075. "