Jeffrey L. Harris

QUEENS, N.Y. | Jeffrey L. Harris passed away on Friday, May 25, 2018, of a heart attack at the age of 56 while in St. Augustine, Fla. He was living in Queens, N.Y. at the time.

Jeff was born in Auburn in June of 1961. The only son of Virginia Harris, he grew up surrounded by strong, loving women including his mother, his grandmother, Rachel, and his three sisters.

Pursuing his passion, Jeff went to Syracuse University and then the School of Visual Arts in New York City and earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. He went on to have a very successful career in advertising as a creative director. Jeff did not miss the cold central New York winters and loved the chaos of being in the city.

Branching out beyond advertising, Jeff recently launched Hudson River Surf Club, a lifestyle and apparel company. His creativity and passion were exceeded only by his love of his family and his never ending desire to help others. They say there is power in love. By that standard, Jeff was the most powerful man in the world.

Jeff is survived by his mother, Virginia Harris; his three sisters, Georgina, Cheryle, and Denise; two brothers-in-law, Mike and Joe; the mother of his children, Kim; his two sons, Josh and Griffin; his fiancée, Christine; his business partner, Jim Chin, and countless nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends, and extended family.

Services for Jeff will be held in New York City from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2018, at Hess Miller Funeral Home. In Auburn, there will be a viewing from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at Pettigrass Funeral Home, 196 Genesee St., Auburn, NY 13021, followed by a Mass at 1 p.m. in Holy Family Church, Auburn. Burial will immediately follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Auburn, N.Y.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

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