Ralph Meares Harris II's Obituary
Ralph Meares Harris, II, son of the late Ralph Meares Harris and Gladys Mae (Clifton) Harris, was born on July 26, 1934 in Boston, Massachusetts. Ralph spent his formative years in Boston attending Boston English High School where he excelled at track and field. He went on to Suffolk University also in Boston, where he graduated with a degree in Chemistry. He was very proud of his Boston heritage. His family has been in the Boston area for many generations.
In 1958 Ralph moved west to Berkeley, California where he began working at Oakland Children’s Hospital. While living in Berkeley he met Patricia Brown. They married on August 21, 1960 at St. Joseph’s Church also in Berkeley. Their loving union lasted 56 years. In 1964 Ralph and Patricia were blessed with a son, Damon Wendell Harris.
Ralph went on to use his chemistry degree working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Chevron Chemical Corporation. Ralph changed careers and became the first African-American marketing account executive at KRON TV in San Francisco. After trailblazing the way for many, Ralph retired from KRON in 1996 after 23 years of service.
Ralph loved to travel; he and Patricia saw the world together travelling to Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America and throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He loved everything about the water; he enjoyed boating, fishing, and swimming. If it had to do with the water he was a participant.
Ralph and Patricia enjoyed their retirement, spending half of the year on Martha’s Vineyard, time in Aruba with Ralph’s cousins, Bill and Barbara Jackson and a multitude of longtime friends. The best of times were spent in El Sobrante, California with Damon, Christine and his cherished grandchildren.
Ralph was also an avid sports fan. He enjoyed going to the “office,” Golden Gate Field’s Race Track, where he and a tight nit group of friends spent many an hour studying and watching the horses run. He loved to play golf and always had the latest and greatest of clubs on the market. He loved watching the Raiders, Warriors, and A’s play up close and in person. Ralph’s love for the world of statistics has been inherited by his grandson, Payton. Batting averages, points scored, medals won, championships played. You name it, and they knew it.
Ralph’s love of sports and watching his grandkids excel in their athletic abilities was a passion.
Ralph loved to dine out and had many favorite restaurants where everybody knew his name. He was a loyal friend and maintained many lifelong friendships.
Ralph had a servant’s heart, along with Patricia, quietly ministering to the homeless and supporting the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Ralph was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the NAACP.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Patricia, his son, Damon, daughter in-law Christine and three amazing grandchildren; Brianna, Payton, and Reece. He is also survived by his niece Carol Sidell and nephew Darrell Harris; cousins Carolyn Stokes, Dr. Michael Stokes, Dr. Monica Stokes, Craig Stokes; Dr. Edward Bryan; Wilbur, Barbara, Deborah, Sherry and Kent Jackson; Phoebe Matthews and Frances Long as well as many other cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Gladys and brother Norman.
The family is especially grateful to Drs. Watson, Cecchi, Rembert, Greenberg and their staff as well as Gentiva Hospice who took extraordinary care of Ralph.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Ralph M. Harris, II to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
1-800/822-6344
www.stjude.org/tribute
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