Michael "Buck" Harris, 70, of Cleveland OH and Provincetown, died Saturday, September 1st at his summer home in Provincetown, with his husband by his side. He pioneered gay radio, gay health education, naked yoga, a dog-friendly restaurant and more in the Cleveland area.
Michael grew up in Lakewood OH, graduated from Lakewood High School and studied communications at Antioch College. For seven years, he taught farming to adults with retardation in Charles County, Maryland.
In 1984, Gov. Richard Celeste made Harris what was believed to be the nation's first state consultant on gay health. In Greater Cleveland, he worked for the Family Planning Association and Planned Parenthood. He also taught sex education at the Cleveland Health Museum. As Ohio's gay health consultant, Harris developed a training program for HIV counselors and conducted it throughout the state and beyond.
In 1988, he met his future husband, Michael O'Connor. The couple lived on the western edge of Ohio City, with vacation homes in Provincetown and Puerto Vallarta. Harris used to say he summered in Provincetown, wintered in Puerto Vallarta and did his laundry in Cleveland.
In his own neighborhood, Harris founded Bridge Brigade, which helped fight crime and blight on Bridge Avenue. He liked to sail, fish, play tennis, garden, cook, play bridge and teach the game.
Survivors include his husband, Michael T. O’Connor, a twin sister and two brothers.
A Memorial Service will take place at 10 a.m. Sunday, September 23rd at the Capitol Theatre, 1390 West 65th St. Cleveland, OH.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Provincetown Celebration of Buck’s Life at 2:00 pm on Saturday October 6th at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 236 Commercial St, Provincetown.