Donald Mervon Harrison
October 28, 1948 ~ May 25, 2020
Donald Mervon Harrison, 71, of Oakton, Virginia, died at Georgetown University Hospital, May 25, 2020. Don was the son of Donald and Marguerite Harrison of Annandale, Virginia and St Augustine, Florida.
Don graduated from Annandale High School, College of William and Mary and University of Virginia, where he earned an MA and PhD (’77) in Economics. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Services Corp, attaining the rank of Captain. He was an intelligence officer at the Central Intelligence Agency for two years.
The bulk of Don’s career was spent with the U.S. Agency for International Development. He found his years with U.S. AID to be both challenging and rewarding. Always concerned about those living in hardship, he found helping to improve people’s lives and advancing development very fulfilling. He served with his family in Barbados, Grenada, Honduras and El Salvador, and in temporary assignments in Eastern Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa. Always keen to stay fit, he did his daily jog where ever he was. He was widely recognized as “the man who runs.”
A life-long sports enthusiast, Don played tennis and basketball. He was a die-hard Senators, then Nationals, baseball fan and cheered on every University of Virginia team. He rarely missed a Wahoo football or basketball game, even if his only option was shortwave radio over Armed Forces Radio.
In retirement, Don pursued his interest in gardening, was active in his church, and volunteered with the Virginia Adopt-a-Highway program. He was passionate about nature and his family. His goal in every encounter was to leave each person a little happier than they had been before.
Don is survived by his beloved wife, Wesley March Harrison, his devoted children, Donald (Rob) Harrison and Joseph (Drew) Harrison and his siblings, Alan R Harrison, of Annandale, Marguerite Pickering (Craig), of Charlottesville and Elizabeth Spivey (Mike), of Afton, Virginia.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Church of the Holy Comforter, 543 Beulah Rd, NE, Vienna, Virginia 22180 at 12:00 noon. Memorial donations may be made to the World Wildlife Fund, Church of the Holy Comforter or Food for the Poor.
Don graduated from Annandale High School, College of William and Mary and University of Virginia, where he earned an MA and PhD (’77) in Economics. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Services Corp, attaining the rank of Captain. He was an intelligence officer at the Central Intelligence Agency for two years.
The bulk of Don’s career was spent with the U.S. Agency for International Development. He found his years with U.S. AID to be both challenging and rewarding. Always concerned about those living in hardship, he found helping to improve people’s lives and advancing development very fulfilling. He served with his family in Barbados, Grenada, Honduras and El Salvador, and in temporary assignments in Eastern Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa. Always keen to stay fit, he did his daily jog where ever he was. He was widely recognized as “the man who runs.”
A life-long sports enthusiast, Don played tennis and basketball. He was a die-hard Senators, then Nationals, baseball fan and cheered on every University of Virginia team. He rarely missed a Wahoo football or basketball game, even if his only option was shortwave radio over Armed Forces Radio.
In retirement, Don pursued his interest in gardening, was active in his church, and volunteered with the Virginia Adopt-a-Highway program. He was passionate about nature and his family. His goal in every encounter was to leave each person a little happier than they had been before.
Don is survived by his beloved wife, Wesley March Harrison, his devoted children, Donald (Rob) Harrison and Joseph (Drew) Harrison and his siblings, Alan R Harrison, of Annandale, Marguerite Pickering (Craig), of Charlottesville and Elizabeth Spivey (Mike), of Afton, Virginia.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Church of the Holy Comforter, 543 Beulah Rd, NE, Vienna, Virginia 22180 at 12:00 noon. Memorial donations may be made to the World Wildlife Fund, Church of the Holy Comforter or Food for the Poor.
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