Obituary

William "Jim" Harman, primarily of Sarasota, FL, died peacefully at home in Austin, TX at the age of 92 on March 25th, 2023, surrounded by his children. He was formerly of Winston-Salem, NC; McLean, VA; Philadelphia, PA; and Titusville, NJ.

Jim was born in Trenton, NJ. He served in the Army as a Staff Sergeant with the 924th Engineer Aviation Group, also referred to as SCARWAF (Special Category Army With Air Force) during the Korean War. Following his Service, he was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He pursued graduate studies in international relations and law at Penn and at The Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands, followed by senior management positions in nonprofit organizations and management consulting.

Jim served as the chief development officer for five major organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (Assistant Dean). As a consultant for several years, he assisted more than 40 schools, colleges, museums and trade associations. He joined New College Foundation in 1995 as executive vice president and retired in 2006. On two occasions he served as interim president of the Foundation.

In Sarasota he served on the governing boards of the Southwest Florida Planned Giving Council, the Nonprofit Resource Center, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Art Center Sarasota, the Sarasota Club de Pétanque, and the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Club. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8787. Jim was a true Renaissance man. His lifelong passions were art, painting, photography, woodworking, travel, and German Folk music. More recently he began writing, publishing four novels and completing a memoir about his father. His best moments in life were shared with family at the North Carolina Outer Banks, with its perpetually breaking waves, ocean roar, sea breeze and salt air.

Europe was also a draw for Jim. In 1949, following the Second World War, he spent a summer living with the Moeser family in the Munich suburbs of Germany. He maintained a friendship with their son, Guenther, throughout his life. France was also a favorite destination. He spent nearly two years in Bordeaux and visited Paris more than 20 times.

Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife of 36 years, Carollee, and his parents James Reginald "Reg" and Anna Margarum (Cole) Harman. His survivors include sons James Reginald II (wife, Quirina) of Austin, TX, and Christoph Hauber (wife, Ruth) of Broomfield, CO, daughters Col (USA Ret) Elizabeth "Lisa" Herron Hines of Austin, TX, and Laura Lacy Harman of Arlington, VA. He is also survived by sisters Mary Ann Wagner of Mantoloking, NJ, and Catherine White of Savannah, GA, five grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.