Dr Edward J Harrington died Saturday, August 15th, 2009. He was born on February 19th, 1926, in Greenfield, MA -son of Michael and Alma Harrington. After graduating from Greenfield High School, he joined the Navy as a Pharmacist's Mate 3/C and he served until June of 1946. He then earned both Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at Tufts University. After graduating, he was employed for one year in the Education Department at the Boston Museum of Science. In 1952 he was accepted into Cornell University's graduate program, earning a PhD in Vertebrae Zoology (Mammalogy) in 1955. In September of 1955 Dr Harrington joined the faculty of San Jose State College as an assistant professor of Biology and Natural Science. On December 23rd, 1956, he married Ruth Elaine Oakleaf; a day he always described as one of the "most wonderful and fortunate of his life". Of Ruth he always said, "She is the greatest wife a man ever had". In 1963 he became the Associate Dean of the College - developing the college's first Academic Master Plan. In 1964, he was appointed Dean of Undergraduate Studies; in 1968, Dean of Academic Planning; and in 1969, he was named Interim Academic Vice President. In the fall of 1970, Dr Harrington joined the administration and faculty of Central Washington State College as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Biology. After 18 years as Vice President, he "stepped down" and asked to serve in the Cooperative Education Office from which he retired in 1989. Although during his 18 years as Vice President, the University had to deal with many problems, including constant state-wide budget cuts, he was pleased with the spirit and dedication of the faculty and administration that led to college being renamed Central Washington University. One of the highlights for Dr Harrington during this period was a survey and vote of 662 college and university presidents that named CWU as one of the top seven comprehensive universities in the West in the November 28, 1983 issue of United States News and World Reports. With the arrival of President Garrity, Dr Harrington was named Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. At that time, he devoted much of his time enhancing Central's role as a "comprehensive" university. In doing this, he put emphasis on the Aerospace, the Mechanical and the Electrical Engineering Programs; as well as the Liberal Arts and Education Programs. The accomplishments with which he took greatest pride were as follows: He started the "Extended Degree Programs" where faculty taught regular campus classes in community colleges throughout the state. With great support from the deans, he established programs at Everett Community College, (Payne Field) Edmonds, Highline, Ft. Steilacoom, Yakima Valley and Tri-Cities. Since he asked the faculty to teach off-campus, he felt that he should do so himself. He taught nights for 2 years at YVCC. Ironically, one spring his class was the largest off-campus class offered by CWU under state staffing rules it generated 2.5 positions for the Department of Biological Sciences. These Centers and others later developed became Central's off-campus sites. On campus, when he was able to identify 12 Phi Kappa Phi members, he established a Phi Kappa Phi Chapter at Central. Phi Kappa Phi, the national honor society has exceedingly high standards for those being considered for membership. Dr Harrington insisted that the standards for admission at Central be higher than those of Phi Beta Kappa. Today the society is a "star in the crown" for Central's Academic Programs. He expanded the Faculty Honors Program to include not only teaching, but research and public service. Portraits of the faculty so honored each were displayed at the library in literally "a work of art" created by Darwin Davis. Based on the program Dr. Harrington was involved in at San Jose State, he founded the Honors Convocation where recognition could be given not only to President's Scholars, but to Dean's Scholars, the Distinguished Graduate Student and Distinguished (Honored) Faculty. He took money from his office budget and commissioned Professor Wilhelm Baake to create the University's MACE. Dr. Harrington also commissioned a series of artists to paint oil portraits of the Presidents starting with Dr. McConnell, Dr. Brooks and Dr. Garrity. These portraits are still on display in Barge Hall along with the presidents who succeeded them. Likewise, relying on past experience, he started the Class Tree Project where each graduating class could designate a tree to be planted on the Class Tree Walk. (The project was enhanced when Dr "Bud" Klucking of the Biology Department identified standing trees on campus and added trees with bronze markers to complete a well-marked "Arboretum" on campus of over 100 different trees.) On October 19, 1987, John Ludtka wrote an article in the paper about Dr. Harrington's retirement stating, "It means CWU will have some big shoes to fill". Dr Harrington was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the National Honor Society, the American Society of Mammalogists and the American Philatelic Society. His interests through the years included hunting, fishing, photography and philately. Dr Harrington is survived by his wife, Ruth, 3 sons; Gregory (Doreen), Douglas, and Drew, daughter Linda (Jeff) Gutterud, 3 granddaughters, 2 grandsons, a great granddaughter and a great grandson. At his request, there will not be a funeral service, however; there will be a Celebration of Ed's Life at his home on Saturday, August 22nd from 2-4 pm, anyone wishing to make a contribution in his memory may send his or her gift to the CWU Scholarship Luncheon c/o the CWU Foundation, CWU.