George Bernard Clifton "Clif" Harris, M.D.

George Bernard Clifton “Clif” Harris, M.D. passed away peacefully on April 15, 2022 at home in Needham of Covid 19, at the age of 98. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, as well as a medical scholar, educator, and clinician.    

He was born in the Ville St-Laurent borough of Montreal, Canada, on Nov 27, 1923 to Pearl (Millar) and Leonard C. Harris. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 64 years, Nancy (McNamara), and their four daughters, M. Patricia Harris, M.D., of Asbury, NJ, Kathryn Harris, M.D., and her husband Tony Medeiros of Mansfield, MA, Amy Harris, of Pawlet, VT, Polly Millar Harris and her husband Rich Sturim of Charlotte, VT, and 8 grandchildren.  He was predeceased by 2 sisters, Ada Snelgrove, and Eileen Kahl, and is survived by his older sister Marguerite Gilmour of Vancouver, Canada.  

Dr. Harris grew up in Montreal, and graduated from McGill University and McGill School of Medicine.  He then moved to Boston and became a pediatric radiologist, a brand new specialty at the time, at Boston Children's Hospital. He was the Associate Radiologist-In-Chief at Children’s and Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, spending his career at Boston Children’s.  As a member of the faculty there, he taught radiologists from all over the US and Europe, along with generations of medical students, residents and fellows. His wife Nancy would often invite the international visiting doctors to their home for holiday meals. Dr. Harris was the author of many published scholarly articles and textbook chapters. In 2004, he was honored with the Pioneer Award of the Society of Pediatric Radiology.

Dr. Harris was a quiet, dignified man, with a witty, dry sense of humor.  He was a lifelong advocate for women’s rights, perhaps because he grew up with 3 sisters and had 4 daughters. 

Clif and Nancy lived in Needham their whole married life, spent winter weekends skiing in New Hampshire and Vermont, and summers at Starr Farm Beach on Lake Champlain.  He was a member of the Needham Golf Club, Needham Pool and Racquet Club, and the Lake Mansfield Trout Club in Vermont. In later years, they enjoyed spending winters in Sarasota, FL and traveled widely.

His family is very grateful for the loving care he and Nancy receive at North Hill, Needham, and the wonderful care he received from Good Shepherd Hospice.

Services will be private.
Clif loved birdwatching. Donations in his memory can be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

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