With a heavy heart I am sending this post - Pat, Art's wife
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Arthur “Art” Harris on April 19, 2026. Born in Greensburg, PA as the son of a coal miner and stay at home mom, he was a loving man of boundless energy and endless generosity.
As a graduate of Clarion Teacher’s College, he earned his Bachelors Degree and went on to earn his Masters Degree from Hofstra University. Art was a lifelong educator who lovingly served the students of Patchogue, LI, NY, and Pinellas County Schools for 42 years as a teacher of Science and a football coach. He also served as an Assistant Principal at Riviera Middle School in St. Petersburg, from which he retired in 2003.
As both a traveler and an avid boat and fisherman, he often enjoyed casting his lures into each area’s nearby waterways. This included the waters off Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Australia and one of his personal favorites, New Zealand. Whether it be the surrounding saltwater or fly fishing for trout in mountainous, back country streams, Art always enjoyed both the tranquility that fishing provided, as well as the challenge of “catching a big one.” In fact, he was a proud member of the PA Fly Fishing Club, where he could share both his “fish stories” and long acquired fishing techniques.
Art’s love of sports actually extended far beyond football and fishing alone, to other “games” that included an element of chance. He loved being crowned the reigning Jeopardy Champion during family competitions. Having once raised greyhound dogs for racing, he also enjoyed both watching and placing bets on dogs and horses, even up to the day before he journeyed from his earthly “finish line” to his heavenly home. Another game of chance he loved engaging in was scratching and playing the LOTTO with the hope of “hitting it BIG!” Although that monetary dream never came to fruition, he knew well that his real, priceless treasure was his family whom he dearly loved. Whether reading about a local restaurant with a James Beard award-winning chef, trying out a new recipe, or cooking one of his delicious Prime Ribs, he loved nothing more than perfecting and sharing his culinary talents, gained in retirement, and then setting a lovingly prepared and scrumptious meal before his cherished family, gathered for weekly dinners and holidays.
He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and educator who gave far more than he ever received. He will be missed much by his wife, Pat, his children Scott (Amy), Staci (David), Quentin, his grandchildren: Ryan, Brandon (Samm), Nova, and his great grandson Atlas who living nearby, spent endless hours gaining wisdom from and sharing humorous moments with him.
The life of Art will be honored with a memorial in upcoming weeks. Further information will be posted at a later date.
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Arthur “Art” Harris on April 19, 2026. Born in Greensburg, PA as the son of a coal miner and stay at home mom, he was a loving man of boundless energy and endless generosity.
As a graduate of Clarion Teacher’s College, he earned his Bachelors Degree and went on to earn his Masters Degree from Hofstra University. Art was a lifelong educator who lovingly served the students of Patchogue, LI, NY, and Pinellas County Schools for 42 years as a teacher of Science and a football coach. He also served as an Assistant Principal at Riviera Middle School in St. Petersburg, from which he retired in 2003.
As both a traveler and an avid boat and fisherman, he often enjoyed casting his lures into each area’s nearby waterways. This included the waters off Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Australia and one of his personal favorites, New Zealand. Whether it be the surrounding saltwater or fly fishing for trout in mountainous, back country streams, Art always enjoyed both the tranquility that fishing provided, as well as the challenge of “catching a big one.” In fact, he was a proud member of the PA Fly Fishing Club, where he could share both his “fish stories” and long acquired fishing techniques.
Art’s love of sports actually extended far beyond football and fishing alone, to other “games” that included an element of chance. He loved being crowned the reigning Jeopardy Champion during family competitions. Having once raised greyhound dogs for racing, he also enjoyed both watching and placing bets on dogs and horses, even up to the day before he journeyed from his earthly “finish line” to his heavenly home. Another game of chance he loved engaging in was scratching and playing the LOTTO with the hope of “hitting it BIG!” Although that monetary dream never came to fruition, he knew well that his real, priceless treasure was his family whom he dearly loved. Whether reading about a local restaurant with a James Beard award-winning chef, trying out a new recipe, or cooking one of his delicious Prime Ribs, he loved nothing more than perfecting and sharing his culinary talents, gained in retirement, and then setting a lovingly prepared and scrumptious meal before his cherished family, gathered for weekly dinners and holidays.
He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and educator who gave far more than he ever received. He will be missed much by his wife, Pat, his children Scott (Amy), Staci (David), Quentin, his grandchildren: Ryan, Brandon (Samm), Nova, and his great grandson Atlas who living nearby, spent endless hours gaining wisdom from and sharing humorous moments with him.
The life of Art will be honored with a memorial in upcoming weeks. Further information will be posted at a later date.
