Joseph Harris

Joseph R. Harris of Corrales, 83, passed away peacefully of natural causes with his wife Jean by his side on December 4 at their home in Corrales, NM. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean Harris, son Joseph R. Harris, Jr., daughter-in-law Debbie Benoit-Harris, M.D., daughter Allison Harris, grandson David Benoit-Harris, granddaughters Danielle Benoit-Harris and Camille Benoit Harris, sister Eleanor Jayne Harris, and numerous beloved other relatives, friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his son, the late Ngala Mfalme. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was known as "Joe" by his family and friends.

Joseph earned a Bachelor's in Government from what is now LaSalle University.  A fellowship at Fordham University in New York led to a Master's in Politics and Public Policy.  He fulfilled all the requirements for a Ph.D., falling short of completing his dissertation after his family began to grow.

Joseph began his career by serving as National Program Director for the National Conference of Christians and Jews in New York and then as Associate Director of the Peace Corps in Cameroon, West Africa. From 1968-1995, he served in a variety of executive administrative positions developing an extensive career as an educational leader in local, national, and international public service. While at Staten Island Community College, he developed one of the early successful minority student exchange programs involving public/private and two-and four-year colleges and universities and also created an integrated curriculum model for Freshmen that is still in use.
After retiring from CUNY in 1995, Joseph's consulting clients included The College Board, Ford Foundation, Peace Corps Training Program at Boston University and in the Virgin Islands, and the Westinghouse Corporation. His community affiliations included serving as a member of the Afro-American Museum of New Mexico Task Force, Compadres de Corrales, a community support organization, volunteering for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the Hispanic Cultural Center, and being a Lifetime Member of the NAACP.

Joseph was a devoted Catholic for his entire life and his life was largely a testimony to his active faith in Christianity. 

His funeral Mass will be held on Friday at San Ysidro Catholic Church on Corrales Road in Corrales, New Mexico at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time. Due to the pandemic only the seven family members who are in the area will be allowed to attend. However, the service will be livestreamed on the San Ysidro church's webpage at   www.sanysidroparish.org

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Albuquerque Community Foundation's Ngala Memorial Fund which assists musicians with medical care at  https://www.albuquerquefoundation.org/donor-stories-ngala-memorial-fund.aspx