Obituary of John E. Harrington, Jr.

John E. Harrington of Stamford, Connecticut, died unexpectedly at Stamford Hospital on September 12. He was 67.

The first grandson of Irish immigrants, John was born on August 24, 1956, at Doctors Hospital on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City—the eldest son of John E. and Joan L. Harrington. Initially raised in the Bronx, John moved with his family to Franklin Square, N.Y., on Long Island, in 1959. At nine he moved with his family to Stamford, his hometown. 

In high school, John ran on the track team, played Babe Ruth Baseball, and was an honor student. After graduating from Syracuse University in 1978, John entered the Graduate Cinema Studies program at New York University, where he made short films and local New York City TV commercials. After college, John worked for many years as a magazine editor in the New York City area. 

He was well known for his sharp sense of humor, his infectious laughter, his prodigious memory, his extraordinary wealth of knowledge, and for his integrity and sense of fair play.

John is survived by his partner, the love of his life, Gerda Dettke of Stamford; his mother Joan, of Stamford; two brothers, Michael (Kristen), of Prairie Village, Kansas, and David (Laura) of Stamford; a sister, Joanne, of Stamford; a niece, Kathryn; and two nephews, Christian and Kevin. He was predeceased by his father, John E. Harrington, in 2011, and by his youngest brother, Kevin, in 1983.

All services are private and no calling hours will be held.  Arrangements are under the direction of Thomas M Gallagher Funeral home 104 Myrtle Ave Stamford (203)-359-9999. To send on-line condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com