MILLARD DOW HARRISON
LINCOLNVILLE…………………Millard Dow Harrison died at his home on October 6, 2017, after a long illness. He was born on July 7, 1933, in Castine, the son of Capt. Sydney Carroll Harrison and Janet (Parker Dow) Harrison. He was the youngest of seven siblings, all of whom predeceased him: Oliver “Bud” Willard Harrison, Elinor May Harrison Brown, Jean Evelyn Harrison Elsemore, Frank Parker Harrison, Sydney Gardner Harrison, and Janet “Johnny” Carroll Harrison Crosson.
A graduate of Bucksport High School, Millard attended the University of Maine in Orono in his freshman and sophomore years, then enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to Korea. After completing his military service, Harrison returned to the University to complete his undergraduate degree and began his professional career on the faculty of Franklin High School in Franklin, Massachusetts, as chair of the History and Government Department there.
After four years, during which time he pursued his Master’s Degree in Education at colleges in the Boston area including Brown and Harvard, he began his Vermont years of educational leadership. He accepted a position in Hyde Park, VT as principal of the elementary school. After three years, he and his family moved to Barton, VT where he was instrumental in developing a high school building concept for for a four-town school district. After three years, he then accepted an administrative position in the White River Junction as Assistance Superintendent of Schools and completed 10 years of service in Vermont public schools.
When the opportunity came to return to Maine, Harrison and his family moved to Readfield where he helped to conceptualize and build a new community school for Readfield, Manchester, Mt. Vernon, and Wayne. He served as Superintendent of Schools for the four-town school district, and also served as Superintendent for Rome schools. He has the distinction of having the roadway to the regional school he helped create named Millard Harrison Drive. The American Association of School Administrators and The American Institute of Architects selected the Maranacook Community School in Readfield for display at their 1979 Exhibition of School Architecture, citing Millard Harrison, Superintendent, who spear-headed the project. In addition, Millard served as chair on the Legislative Committee of the Maine Superintendents Association for six years.
His final administrative position was serving as superintendent of schools in the Great Salt Bay School district in Damariscotta and surrounding communities for eight years. In his retirement, he worked for several years as an education consultant.
Gregarious and fun-loving, Millard thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of his family, staff, students, parents, friends, and family. He was known for his broad smile and penchant for story-telling.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ann Sleight Harrison; children, Capt. William Sydney Harrison and his wife, Jill Taylor Harrison of South Bristol; daughter Jill Hume Harrison, Ph.D. of Jamestown, RI; four grandchildren, Taylor Sleight Harrison, the eldest, and a 2016 graduate of West Point in civil engineering; Grace Eleanor Harrison, a senior at the University of Vermont studying veterinary medicine; Brinley Ann Harrison, a senior in high school at Lincoln Academy; and Cameron Harrison, who is in his sophomore year of high school. He is also survived by a cousin, Barbara Dow Nucci and her three sons, of South Portland and Naples, Italy; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Millard enjoyed sports all his life, and followed national teams closely, as well as cheering on the teams of his children and grandchildren. The family and grandchildren loved hiking, canoeing, skiing, and many sailing adventures with their dad and grandfather.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the staff of Hope Health in Camden; Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport; Maine Medical Center in Portland; the Alfond Cancer Center in Augusta; and the Maine Home Healthcare for their care during his illness. Caring support from his friends at the Pen Bay YMCA in Rockport is also greatly appreciated.
A memorial service will be held at 3PM, Saturday, October 28, 2017 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 11 White Street, Rockland with the Rev. Ted Kannellakis officiating. In lieu of flowers, friends may choose to support Partners for Enrichment, a 5013C agency, 721 Camden Rd., Hope, Maine 04847. The goal of the agency is to provide art and science enrichment to the students of Appleton, Hope, and Lincolnville schools.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation, 9 Mountain Street, Camden, Maine.

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