U.S. Marine veteran
LYNNFIELD — Robert Harriss, 99, of Lynnfield, passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 1, 2025 at Sunrise Assisted Living in Lynnfield.
Robert was born in Swampscott on Sept. 5, 1925, and was the son of the late John and Anna (Tully) Harriss. In 1938, he moved from Lynnfield to Stafford, England with his family, where he lived and attended Downside School, a boarding school in Sommerset England. In 1943, Robert had a desire to enlist in the military because it was important to him as an American citizen to become a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He was the first ever United States Marine to be recruited in England. He served as an active-duty Marine Lieutenant during World War II. After his service in the military, Robert attended Boston University and graduated with a degree in business and began working in his family business.
As his career advanced, he eventually took over from his dad and grew the business even further. International Advisory Service still exists today; is in its fourth generation and is now run by Robert’s son Peter. He had been a Lynnfield resident for over 80 years and enjoyed fishing, reading and spending summers on Cape Cod.
He was the beloved husband of Barbara (Falco). He is predeceased in death by his first wife Elinor (Barnes). He was the loving father of Robert Harriss Jr. and his wife Rachel; Sue Harriss Adams and her husband Bill; Jack Harriss and his wife Eileen; Peter Harriss and his wife Jackie; and Pamela Richard and her husband Gregg. Robert was the brother of Anne Bugbee of Bennington, Vermont; and the late Jack, Donald and Jean Heath. He was also the grandfather to Mark, Molly, Sophie, Hugh, Bridget, Ted, Anna, Katelin, Scott, Alexandra, Abby and Cameron; and great grandfather to nine. His granddaughter Laurie predeceased him.
Visitation for relatives and friends was held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave, Wakefield from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, April 4, with a Funeral Service beginning promptly at 12 p.m. Robert was buried at Willow Cemetery in Lynnfield. The family requested that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in Robert’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org and/or MDSC Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress at mdsc.org. To sign the online guestbook, visit mcdonaldfs.com.