Joseph Harris Obituary

Professor Joseph David Harris

Claremont, NH - The Honorable Joseph "Josie" David Harris, 91, passed away peacefully at home on May 21, 2025, in Claremont, New Hampshire with the support of his wife and Hospice. Born on January 16, 1934, in Evansville, Indiana, he led a life marked by intellectual brilliance, global exploration, and a deep appreciation for the sciences and the arts.

A prodigious scholar from an early age, Professor Harris took his first college course at the age of 9, earned his B.S. in Physics from Purdue University at just 17 years old and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago at 21-remarkable achievements that set the tone for a lifetime of academic and professional excellence. His pursuit of knowledge took him across continents, including a prestigious fellowship at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, where he worked with Werner Heisenberg. Encouraged by the work and intellect of John Kemeny, Professor Harris came to Dartmouth to teach physics and mentor undergraduate and graduate students at Dartmouth College for 42 years and retired Emeritus. He also served as Chair of the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program (MALS) during his tenure at Dartmouth.

Professor Harris met his wife Sandra when she was in graduate school in Women's Studies at Dartmouth College. They married in 1982 and jointly raised Sandra's daughter Briana in Etna, New Hampshire. They then moved to Claremont, New Hampshire in retirement, at which time both ran for and represented Claremont and Sullivan County in the New Hampshire State Legislature. Joe served there on the Science and Technology Committee. They were the 4th couple in the history of the NH House, one of the oldest Legislatures in the U.S. Throughout their 40 years plus of marriage, they spent time at their homes in Provincetown, Massachusetts and Claremont, New Hampshire and traveled the world, including a 6-month cruise with 80 stops, circumnavigating the globe with additional trips to France, Cuba, Tahiti, Hawaii, Norway and more.

Joe was known for his love of classical music, opera, languages, world religions, science and literature. His interests were reflected in his vast book and art collections. Quoting one of his colleagues, Joe was "probably the smartest person in the Physics and Astronomy Department, read more books than anybody, but more importantly he was one of the kindest people I knew."

These passions accompanied him throughout his life and were often shared during his extensive travels around the world. Whether visiting bookstores and libraries, exploring new cultures through food, literature, travel and conversation, he embraced every opportunity to learn and experience more of what the world had to offer. As an example, Joe would spend the month before each Olympics cooking the food of the country in which the competition was being held, resulting in his owning an extensive international cookbook collection.

Joe's roots and heart were in Kentucky and Indiana. When his wife Sandra was honored along with one other state Representative for her work on 911, she was made a Kentucky Colonel which meant a lot to Joe . They both donate generously to the charitable work of the Kentucky Colonels.

He is dearly remembered with love by his wife of over 40 years, Sandra Calore Harris (Claremont, NH and Provincetown, MA); step-daughter Dr. Briana Calore (Cooperstown, NY), grandchildren Nathan, Owen, and Henry Calore-Page (Cooperstown, NY); daughter Annie Tuley and her husband Rick (Export, PA), grandson John Tuley and his wife Stephanie (Colorado), great-grandchild Zach, and granddaughter Professor Kate Tuley (Minnesota); son Professor Paul Harris and his wife Anita (Long Beach, CA), grandson Leon Schwab and his wife Lucia, great-granddaughter Luna (Berlin, Germany);grandson Louis Sasseville and Roxanne (Quebec); granddaughter Professor Dehlia Hannah (Denmark) and her husband Nadim, great-grandchildren Jules and Emile (Denmark). He was predeceased by his first wife Paula (Norwich, VT) and their sons David Baptiste Chirot (Milwaukee) and Jed Harris (Quebec); his mother Anne "Mo" (Bradenkamp) Harris (Lebanon, NH), his brother Bobby who died in infancy, and his older brother Stephen Kiefer, and his beloved dog Captain Jack Sparrow (Claremont, NH).

Joe was a Deacon at the Norwich, VT Episocopal Church and later a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Claremont, NH. A memorial service is planned at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Claremont on Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 9:30 AM for all who wish to acknowledge his passing.

Burial is planned with family in Swansea, Massachusetts.

May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him and continue to inspire all who

value knowledge, culture, and curiosity.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, TN or to donkeyrescue.org in honor of Joe's childhood memories of plowing his grandfather's fields with a beloved donkey.