In Memory

Vere Harlow

Vere Harlow

Vere 'Ken' Harlow

 

 

 

Born: 1945
Died: March 20, 2021
Age at Death: 75 years

Just before 7am on March 20th, the first day of Spring, 2021, Vere Kenneth Harlow passed peacefully in his sleep.  As he wished, he was at home, his wife laying next to him, free of any pain or medical intervention. His son, daughter-in-law and grandson slept under the same roof after an evening of farewells and loving well-wishes. Just before his last breath, he quietly reached over for Yingshan's hand one last time.  She held it and simply told him "I love you," then he was free.

Vere was a man of quiet strength, fearsome intellect, unquestionable integrity and above all, dedication to his wife and his family.  He served his country, enlisting with Air Force Intelligence and studying at the Monterey Language Institute,  becoming uncannily fluent in Mandarin Chinese. This allowed him to intercept and decode intercepted communications.  This language skill and his Pacific Rim stations led him to meet the great love his life, Yingshan.

She left Taiwan to marry him in 1973 and he left the Service to blaze through a Master's in Economics.  They went on to have two kids, Kenny (1978) and Lisa (1980) while Vere also built a career as a utilities management consultant.  He went on to become one of the leading voices in his field, working all over the world - including three years relocating the family to Hong Kong where he worked as an expatriat.
 
After returning to Seattle, Vere continued to share his love of the outdoors with his family. As the son of a mountaineer, he loved hiking, camping and photography and spent as much time in the Pacific Northwest nature as possible. He was also a remarkable storyteller, regaling his children with improvised tales detailing the adventures of Kenny and Lisa, with frequent guest stars / godchildren Nikki and Brian.  All four kids giggled and laughed to his colorfully narrated jokes, peppering him with requests for favorites including "The Iron Lung" and "The Pig With The Wooden Leg."

Career eventually led him and Yingshan to sunnier climates when they moved to Orange County in 1998. His passion for motorcycles was rekindled and the two lovebirds had many two-wheeled adventures, including multiple tours through Europe.

In 2001, his world was rocked when Lisa gained her wings at the end of a 6 year journey with cancer. While the family bent, but did not break, it was difficult to move forward and he is now surely filled with joy, being reunited with his little girl.

After retiring, Vere delved even deeper into his passion for classical music, growing extremely hot peppers, perfecting the sous vide, memorizing long-form jokes and taking road trips with his lady.

He was deputized for a day to officiate over the marriage of his son to Patricia in 2019, and welcomed his first grandson Indy into the world in 2020.

One year ago, he was diagnosed with late stage liver cancer and given approximately 8 months to live. Choosing quality of life over a painful struggle to extend his days, he opted out of treatment. His last year was spent peacefully at home with no need for medical intervention.  He showed only minor signs of the illness up until his last week, when he began sleeping longer and eating less.  He passed exactly as he hoped - surrounded by love, comfortable, and on his own terms - with nothing left unsaid.

Vere Harlow was a quietly remarkable man who will be missed and celebrated by those who knew him.

* Photo credit to Justin Figueroa

https://www.facebook.com/vere.harlow



 
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07/10/21 05:50 AM #1    

Charlotte Adelman (Paliani)

I don't have memories to share but I was very moved by the obituary and proud to have been a classmate of such an amazing person. RIP


07/10/21 09:02 AM #2    

Carol Berg (Turner)

I don't remember him either but what a remarkable man he was. And what a beautiful tribute, 


07/12/21 01:21 PM #3    

Joeann Schoenman (Matthew)

I had some classes with him and thought of him as a very nice smart guy.  His obituary was one of themost moving that I have ever read. Rest in Peace.


07/13/21 10:37 AM #4    

Margaret Rodda

What an incredible man!


07/13/21 11:21 AM #5    

Robert Moeckly

While I recognized him from his yearbook picture, I did not know him at all. Like others, I was so impressed with him after reading his obituary, that I wanted to add my voice to the choir that have been blessed to know him as we never imagined. May the spirit of this soul rest eternally peaceful.


07/13/21 03:30 PM #6    

Bill Kelso

Margie recently asked me if I knew Vern and I told her I may have seen him at CK but I did not know him or ever talk to him.

But I agree with Joeanne that his obituary was one of the  most moving ever posted on the website.

It is amazing how we have all of these exceptional people in our high school class but we never hear about them until they die. Pretty sad.

 


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