soul

of blessed memory

‘He Did Th e Walk And Th e Talk’

RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

M

erle Harris, a hard-working
and imaginative entrepre-
neur, a devoted family man,
a loyal friend and an inspirational
leader in business and throughout
the community, passed away on
March 25, 2018, at the age of 89.
Merle, the middle child of Morrey
and Rosalie Harris, was born in 1928,
the year before the Great Depression
descended upon the country. He
graduated from Central High School
and, after World War II, he attended
Michigan State University (then
known as Michigan Agricultural
College), where he lived in a Quonset
hut, co-founded the school’s first
chapter of the ZBT fraternity,
obtained a degree in business and
became a lifelong MSU sports fan.
While attending a Red Wings game
in his brother’s stead, he met Shirley
Barnett, who became his wife a year
later. The couple, who were married
for 57 years, settled in Huntington
Woods, where they began raising
their three children while Merle
worked in the steel business with his
father-in-law, Harry Barnett. Merle
and Shirley were inseparable; they
exemplified a partnership rich with
mutual love, friendship and respect.
Merle took great pride in his children,
his daughters-in-law and, later, his
grandchildren.
According to his son Jeffrey, who
spoke at the funeral service, Merle
was a caring father who taught by
example. He taught his children it
was important to have a strong work

ethic, to give back to
the community, to
have patience and a
well-stocked tool box.
“What you get out of
life is directly propor-
tional to what you put
into it; he said that a
lot,” Jeffrey said.
Always a business-
man, after selling Bar
Steel Company in
his early 40s, Merle
became involved with
Freshlabs, a vitamin
Merle Harris
manufacturing com-
pany he successfully
led for 20 years. After
its sale, Merle applied his extraordi-
nary business acumen to the area of
real estate, closing deals all over the
world.
“As an entrepreneur and a business-
man, he always had the desire and
self-confidence to be on his own,”
said his son Steven, who remembers
his father as a sharp thinker and a
perceptive adviser.
A business and community leader
from a young age, Merle became
chairman of the Young Presidents
Organization, where he developed
a global network of business lead-
ers. He was chairman of the Junior
Division of the Jewish Welfare
Federation (now Jewish Federation of
Metro Detroit) and the Allied Jewish
Campaign and served as president of
Jewish Family Service, the Standard
Club and Franklin Hills Country Club.
He was the chair of the former Sinai
Hospital and president of Huron

Valley Sinai Hospital,
where he endowed
the Merle and Shirley
Harris Birthing Center.
He was the first recipi-
ent of the Wetsman
Award for young lead-
ership and was an hon-
oree in the first Jewish
Senior Life “Eight Over
80” program.
“He did the walk and
the talk,” said Steven,
who spoke at the
funeral service.
One of his proudest
philanthropic projects
was the Merle and
Shirley Harris Children and Family
Division of JARC. In 1999, JARC lead-
ership met with Shirley and Merle
to describe the dream of providing
services to families who had children
with developmental disabilities living
at home.
“The Harrises enthusiastically
embraced the idea … and their con-
tinuing generosity over the years has
had an important impact on the lives
of families in our community,” said
Rena Friedberg, chief philanthropy
officer of JARC.
Merle had an array of eclectic inter-
ests. He was an avid golfer who loved
driving distinctive cars. He enjoyed
Monday night poker games and a
good kosher hot dog. While family
was his priority, he reveled in the
camaraderie of his longtime friends
who came from all walks of life, some
dating back to his college fraternity
days.

Global travelers, he and Shirley
visited more than 60 countries and 40
states as they traveled the world for
business and pleasure and instilled
in their children and grandchildren
a desire to see the world and experi-
ence its adventures.
Despite his success in the business
world, Merle found family was his
greatest source of pride. He cherished
the close relationships he shared with
his sister, Suzanne, and his younger
brother, Al, which included their chil-
dren and extended families.
Merle is survived by his cherished
children, Steven (Gina) Harris, Jeffrey
( Jamie) Harris and Julie Harris;
grandchildren, Rachel ( fiancé,
Benjamin Berg) Harris and Daniel
Harris; brother, Alfred Harris; devoted
companion, Jacqueline Harris Gard;
and many loving nieces, nephews,
great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was the beloved husband of the
late Shirley Harris and the brother
of the late Suzanne (the late Joseph)
Orley.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions in memory of
Merle may be made to JARC, Merle &
Shirley Harris Children and Family
Division, 30301 Northwestern Hwy.
#100, Farmington Hills, MI 48334,
(248) 538-6611, www.jarc.org; or
Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan
Detroit, Merle & Shirley Harris
Guardianship Program, 6710 W.
Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48322, (248) 661-1836, www.jslmi.
org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. •

Monument Center Inc.

32906 Middlebelt Rd (at 14 Mile)

Please see our menu at

www.johnnypomodoros.com

(248) 855- 0007

Johnny Pomodoro’s is your ONE STOP SHOP for all of your needs!
Shiva Trays, Deli Nosh Dairy and Deli Trays, Marty’s Cookie Trays, Johnny’s Signature Fruit & Veggie Trays

Delivery Available

“Same Location Over 80 Years”
Monuments and Markers
Bronze Markers
Memorial Duplicating
Cemetery Lettering & Cleaning

CALL JOHNNY’S FOR TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL SHIVA TRAYS.

DAIRY TRAY

64

MEAT TRAY

April 12 • 2018

FRUIT TRAY

jn

CANDY & NUT TRAY

MARTY'S COOKIES

www.MonumentCenterMichigan.com