Charles P. Harriman ’56

Charlie was born on June 6, 1933, in Lewiston, Maine. He spent most of his childhood in Auburn, Maine, with his father, Alonzo Jesse Harriman, his mother, Pearl Lillian Palmer, and his sister, Sally Crosby Munroe. He was a proud graduate of Edward Little High School in Auburn, where he was an active member of the nordic, alpine, and jumping ski teams. He continued his education at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire, where he was part of the ski team that won the Eastern Prep School Championship in 1953. Charlie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Maine Maritime Academy in 1956 and honorably served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1959. Following his military service, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Boston University in 1960.

He began his distinguished fifty-five-year career as a stockbroker at Putnam Coffin and Burr in Portland, Maine, and continued as an investment advisor at Advest Inc, retiring as Senior Investment Advisor from UBS in Portland in 2015. Known for his keen business acumen and congenial personality, Charlie became a trusted financial advisor and lifelong friend to many clients throughout New England.

On March 21, 1959, Charlie married Ann Rees Harriman in their hometown of Auburn, Maine. A dedicated community member, Charlie served on the Falmouth Town Council and the Falmouth School Board. His commitment to public service extended to the state level, where he was involved in the Governor’s Cost and Management Committee during the Joseph Brennan administration and served as the State Finance Chairman for Jimmy Carter in 1976. He also worked with Governor Ken Curtis and was a founding member, President, and Trustee for Camp Susan Curtis.

Charlie was an active member of the Falmouth Congregational Church, serving as a trustee for the United Church of Christ and participating in numerous mission trips to Honduras. He contributed his time and leadership to many charities, including serving as Director of the Portland YMCA, Trustee of the Falmouth Memorial Library, President of the Falmouth Lions Club, and a board member for the Maine Community Foundation. He was one of the founding members of Maine’s partnership with Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, which resulted in lifelong friendships. He also served as a Trustee at Westbrook College and the University of New England.

An avid outdoorsman and a passionate salmon fisherman, arranging trips that yielded over 400 catches, from the Florida Keys to the St. Paul River in Canada. He was an avid contributor to the Downeast Salmon Foundation, working to help restore salmon populations in Maine. Charlie cherished his camp on Moshier Island, where he enjoyed camping and boating, teaching his children and grandchildren to appreciate the beauty of Casco Bay. He and his wife Ann spent many years cruising the Atlantic Coast aboard their boat, Blue Charm, exploring the islands of Maine and traveling the Intracoastal Waterway to their winter home in Marathon in the Florida Keys. Following Ann’s passing in 2005, Charlie moved to Naples, Florida.

Charlie was widely known for his sense of humor, his generosity, and his congenial spirit. He is survived by his daughter, Melinda Harriman and her husband, John Barry, of Littleton, Colorado; his daughter, Katrina Harriman and her partner, Bill Grennon, of Falmouth, Maine; his son, Graham Harriman, of New York, and his husband, Ayodeji Otuyelu; and his daughter-in-law, Kelly Dennis.

He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren: Tobin, Holly, and Dillon Dennis; Kendall Hartzell; Haley Conde; and Jesse Barry. He also leaves behind two beloved great-grandchildren, Rhys and Maverick Dennis.

Charlie was predeceased by his wife, Ann Rees Harriman, who passed away in 2005, and his son, Rhys Miles Harriman, who passed away in 2013.

A memorial service is planned for the spring at the Falmouth Congregational Church in Falmouth, Maine on Saturday, May 23rd at 10 AM.