Keith F. Harris

Belmont, NY - Keith F. Harris, formerly of Belmont, died Jan. 16, 2012, in Bradenton, Florida, following a period of declining health.  He was 89. He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Owen Harris and Peggy Klimek of Bradenton, Florida; Holly Harris and Charlie Dattola of Cohasset, Massachusetts; and Steve Harris and Patti Zaknich of Renton, Washington; by his two sisters and their spouses, Janet and Edward Lindsey of Bradenton, Florida; and Patricia and Max Gould of Bonita Springs, Florida; by his grandchildren, Kyle Dattola-Harris of New York City and Emily Harris of Gainesville, Florida; and by other members of his extended family. Margaret, his wife since 1948, died in 2008.

Keith grew up in Belmont and graduated from Syracuse University. After serving in the Army Air Corps in WW II, he worked with Gilfillan Brothers, Inc., on emerging radar technology and attended law school at St. Louis University. He returned to Belmont in 1952 to run the family hardware business, Harris Hardware (later Harris Home Center, Inc.), eventually serving as president of the New York State Retail Hardware Association. He retired from the hardware business in 1977 and transplanted to Florida's Sarasota-Bradenton area, where he worked as an accountant until finally mothballing his calculator in 2003. He was an avid golfer and player of poker and bridge; baseball and the stock market were his favorite spectator sports. 

Donations should be made to the donor's local hospice organization or to the American Lung Association.

Family and friends of Keith and Margaret and Owen, Holly, and Steve are invited to gather at Embser Funeral Home, 17 Schuyler Street in Belmont, beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 5, 2012, for a service of remembrance starting at 4:00 p.m.