Robert “Bob” Hunter Harrison was born Oct. 21, 1929 in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) India to Max “Hunter” Harrison and Minnie Katherine Hastings Harrison and died July 5, 2012 in his home in Weston, Massachusetts. The son of Congregational missionaries at Jaffna College, Bob learned his letters and love of hiking at a boarding school in Kodaikanal, India before going to Oberlin College and Penn State University to earn his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Bob went on to do academic research in subliminal perception, music and emotion, and mathematical models for emotion at the University of Massachusetts and Boston University. At BU, Bob was known for his enjoyment of Lunch (often Chinese) with colleagues and graduate students. Bob loved listening to classical music, practiced Christianity as a Quaker, attending meeting regularly. A devoted and loving husband and father, Bob married three times during his life; to Judy Feldman Harrison (deceased), Virginia “Ginny” Johnson (deceased), and Sally McKnight Harrison. Bob lived in Weston, Massachusetts, loved babies and had three children, David and Amy whom he raised from five to adulthood as a single parent, and Anna whom he raised with Ginny. Bob is survived by his wife, three children, and four grandchildren (Alyson, Kathryn, Naomi, and Benjamin).
Visiting hours at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. (Rt 16) WELLESLEY, Friday July 13, 5-8 PM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Memorial Service at Wellesley Friends Meeting, 26 Benvenue St., Wellesley, Saturday July 14 at 12 Noon. Expressions of Sympathy may be made in Bob’s memory to Friends committee on National Legislation (FCNL.org).