Harry Harrison

Laguna Beach resident Harry Harrison - philosopher, writer, artist, classical pianist, raconteur and mystic - died of cardiac arrest at South Coast Medical Center on Aug. 19 at the age of 88. He was an alumnus of Chicago University and had pursued graduate studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.

With Harrison's passing, Laguna Beach lost a long-time most unique and somewhat eccentric citizen, often dashingly dressed in a suit often topped by a safari helmet or a beret and scarf, and who always carried a book, magazine or newspaper. His outgoing, cheerful manner and breadth of knowledge across diverse interests made him wellknown in the community.

Harrison's recently published book, "On the Path," describes his adventurous life as a WWII soldier in North Africa, a student in France to boat-builder in England.

In England, he had a dramatic religious revelation and eventually returned to the U.S. for studies at the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles. He described himself as a "Jewish, Christian, Hindu Buddhist."

Following the path of other religious ascetics, Harrison took to the road, homeless and without funds, "on the path" for several months. The humbling, but religiously stabilizing experience ended in Laguna Beach 50 years ago.