Philip Leroy Harrington was born on April 27, 1946 in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He was the fourth son of the late Neville William and Blanche (McNeil) Harrington. He departed this world on August 19, 2009 with family and friends by his side.
Philip was the first African-American male to graduate from the Dover-Sherborn High School in Sherborn, Massachusetts. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina Central University, and a Masters degree in education from Cambridge College. Philip resided with his family in Cambridge, Massachusetts for over 30 years.
A passionate community organizer and staunch advocate for youth, Philip lived by the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. He also inspired his family, friends, colleagues and students to embrace these principles in their own lives. These individuals, in turn, have reached countless others with his messages of hope and faith.
As an educator, Philip was committed to advancing student achievement and developing today's youth as tomorrow's leaders. During his career of over 40 years, he served as METCO Director in the Dover-Sherborn public schools, a program developer for multiple community organizations in Boston, and a middle school math teacher in Cambridge. At Freedom House, he was a senior vice-president for youth leadership development programs, including Project Reach, I Have A Dream, the after-school tutorial program, the summer academy, and the education technology center. He also founded the educational venture, Indeprep, which prepared Black and Latino inner city students for private school success. Equally important to Philip were students' self-esteem and academic preparedness, and school administrators' appreciation for the unique needs of these students and their parents.
In addition to his professional and community service, Philip was active in a myriad of activities. he was a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, honored as Iota Chi Chapter's Man of the Year. He was self-taught on the piano and clarinet, and enjoyed playing the African drums. He was an avid golfer, and played many courses across the country. He was often known to make pit stops at golf courses en route to visit family along the East Coast. He also founded the Harrington Golf Classic tournament - open to professionals and amateurs - which made golf more accessible to people of color. Lesser known to many, Philip entered a full carpenter's workshop in his basement, in which he built furniture pieces for his home, and wooden toys for his daughters and grandson.
Philip's greatest joy was his family: his wife, Chandra; two daughters, Kafi (Cheis Garrus), and Kamala (Christopher Questel); his grandson, Zaire Aman Sekou Garrus), and his mother-in-law, Takako (Sato) Salvi. He greatly loved his siblings: Warren, Dallas (Harriette), James Robert "Bobby" (Debbie), Theresa, and Wallace; and a wealth of cousins, nephews, and nieces. He adored his "Kwanzaa" family, Umoja Abegunde Mashariki. He cherished a wealth of other close friends, fraternity brothers, colleagues and golf partners.
Precious memories keep Philip's spirit alive today and always will.