Andy was born in Albany, New York, August 30, 1938, to Josephine Sturgis Harris and Albert Hall Harris, M.D.
The summers of his youth were idyllic at his grandmother’s home overlooking Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea. He played with his many cousins and learned to sail.
While at Harvard University, Andy arranged his academic schedule to accommodate three-day weekends for skiing in New Hampshire. He spent a year at the University of Munich perfecting his German and his skiing. He earned a degree in Architecture at MIT.
Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN) in Cambridge, Massachusetts hired Andy and for a time and he managed their office in New York City. Well along in his career at BBN and with a new MBA earned at Northeastern University in 1981, Andy asked his BBN co-workers Bob Miller, Carl Hanson and Nick Miller to join him in establishing a new acoustics consulting company focusing on transportation noise. They agreed to form Harris Miller Miller and Hanson (HMMH). In 1983, they hired their first senior technical staff member Chris Menge. Chris helped Carl to build the surface transportation business.
From its founding, Andy Harris was the motivating and inspirational presence at HMMH and served as President and CEO during the first eight years. His strongly held belief in fairness, generosity, and integrity in all actions, not only for clients but for employees and competitors as well, established the company culture. These beliefs led to a culture of trust, openness, and inclusion. It was the trusting personal relationships that he, the other founders, and the later employees established throughout their work that became the widely recognized HMMH trademark. Andy continued actively consulting and innovating at HMMH until 2000.
Along the way Andy received a doctorate in Divinity from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Andy is survived by his wife Katharine (Kate) Culhane, their daughters Danielle Benoit of London, UK.; Monique Benoit of Danvers, Massachusetts; Heidi Harris of Marietta, Georgia; Lisa and Christopher Follett of Columbia Falls, Montana; and Marguerite Quevedo of Naples, Florida. Andy and Kate’s grandchildren are Cheyenne Sandoval, Kaitlin Quevedo, Sofia Quevedo, Anabel Quevedo, Charlie Pasco, and their great granddaughter Lily Moss.
Andrew Sturgis Harris, sailor, skier, pilot, architect, entrepreneur, community volunteer and for many decades, town board member in his cherished Manchester-by-the-Sea died on July 5, 2019 of Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
Andy’s service will be on July 20, at 9:00 a.m., at Emmanuel Church, 24 Masconomo Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944. A reception will follow this service at Sacred Heart’s Parish Hall, 60 School Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea.
Fr. Luther Zeigler is the Minister of Emanuel Church. Fr. Bret B. Hayes is the rector at Andy’s parish church St. John’s Episcopal Church in Gloucester.
Donations in Andy’s memory may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 48 Middle Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 or to Emmanuel Church, 24 Masconomo Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944.
