GEORGE HARRINGTON
George Lewis Harrington went to his eternal rest surrounded by loving family at 5:14 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2014, at the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
George was born on March 5, 1931 the son of Lewis E. and Ruth C. Harrington. He graduated from Norwich High School with the class of 1948 and attended Cornell University for the study of horticulture. On July 1, 1970 George became partners with his brother Gilbert in the family business known as Harrington’s Greenhouses which traced its origin to 1878. On June 30, 2006 the 128 year old florist and greenhouse business closed upon the retirement of the partners.
Not known to take formal vacations George found joy, relaxation and some frustration in holding season tickets to Syracuse University in both football and basketball for over 30 years. He graciously shared these sporting events with many friends, employees and family.
In George’s youth he bacame enamored with the sport of harness racing. At the age of 15 upon the death of his father, George took an active part in the care, training and driving of harness racing horses. At the Clearfield, PA fair George won a race with one of the family’s standard bred horses and the announcer that day referred to George as a “boy wonder”.
In his early twenties and for over thirty years George was associated part time with his brother-in-law Robert McNulty in the harness racing stable run by Bob mainly located at Vernon Downs.
For many of George’s later years he was the official timer for harness racing each summer at the Chenango County Fair.
As a florist George was very talented in the art of floral arranging. His choice of color, texture and value put into every bouquet was much admired.
A pleasant and witty person, George, like Will Rogers, never met a person he didn’t like. On April 1, 1945 George was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Norwich and remained a member for sixty nine years.
George is survived by his sister Catherine McNulty and his niece Roberta LaClair both of Carthage, NC, his brother Gilbert and sister-in-law Barbara of Norwich, his niece Suzanne M. Harrington and her husband David Gilson along with identical twin great nieces Hannah and Sophie Gilson of Cleveland Heights, OH. Also surviving is his nephew Lewis E. Harrington and his wife Ayako Kano along with great nephews Kyota and Yuji Harrington of Philadelphia, PA, niece Kelly M. Harrington and her husband Daniel Tribuiani along with great niece Ava M. Tribuiani of Roslindale, MA.
George courageously dealth with the effects of melanoma cancer for fifteen months. With patience and good spirit he fought the good fight to the end.
Friends may call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday, May 24, from 1-3 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 3 p.m. The Rev. David Spiegel, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Norwich will officiate. Interment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Those wishing to honor George’s memory may contribute to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815, or the First Baptist Church, 10 West Park Place, Norwich, NY 13815 or to the Chenango County SPCA, 6160 County Road 32, Norwich, NY 13815.