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Obituary for Allan W. Harriman

Allan W. Harriman passed peacefully on Wednesday, November 29th at 84 years of age at his home in Mahwah, NJ.

Allan was born in Sioux City, Iowa on February 16, 1933. He was the son of Walter F. Harriman, M.D. and Mildred B. (Allan) Harriman, a registered nurse. He spent many joyful years growing up on Jackson Street in Sioux City. After the untimely death of his father, the family moved to Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Al was eleven years old.

He attended high school in that town, graduating in 1951. Unable to find work because of the Korean War, Allan enlisted in the Army where he became a helicopter crew chief on transport helicopters.

After completing his duties in the Army, Al attended Brown Preparatory in Philadelphia for one year. He then entered Pennsylvania Military College, Chester, Pennsylvania. Today this institution is known as Widener University. He attended college with the help of the G.I. Bill and worked nights as a garage mechanic. He graduated in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration. He later completed some graduate work at West Chester University. Mr. Harriman commented many times that the U.S. Army taught him discipline and how important that lesson was for him in later life challenges.

Allan met the love of his life, Barbara Wurster in 1959 and they were married that year in September.

Al was always employed in the automotive business since the age of 14. He worked in various garages and gas stations and he could fix anything.

Al was an executive for Mercedes-Benz of North America and, after retirement, he and Barbara established a Mercedes Benz dealership in Escondido, California.

Al was an avid small plane pilot, loved tennis and golf, volunteering in many places including the Coast Guard Auxiliary and The Valley Hospital. He especially loved spending time with family.

He is survived by his wife of 58 yrs., three children, Allan Harriman, Trish Beck and Tim Harriman, 7 granddaughters and a younger brother, Ben Harriman, M.D.

Visitation will be at Christ Episcopal Church, 400 Ramapo Avenue, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 on Friday, January 5th from 6 to 9 p.m.

A memorial Service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church on Saturday, January 6th at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, among dear family members already there.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Episcopal Church at the above address.

Please include on the memo line that this donation is for the Al Harriman Memorial.