[Dialogue] The Completed Life of Dr. Harry Bliss 1920-2004

[Marilyn R Crocker]

Dear Colleagues,

It is with a deep sense of loss that we share with you the news of the
completed life of Dr. Harry Bliss in Portland, Maine early Sunday morning
September 12th 2004.  Many of you will recall Harry's role as Guardian,
generously supporting and actively involving himself in the work of the
Ecumenical Institute and the Institute of Cultural Affairs since the
1960s. And you may remember his daughter, Jane, who was part of the New
York House in the early 1970s, and his son Bill, who spent time at the
Sudtonggan Human Development Project.

An extremely accomplished medical professional, dedicated to peace,
justice and lifelong learning (see his obituary below), Harry stood as a
powerful example of servant leadership.  The Clarks, Mortons and Crockers
joined about 200 others at the State Street Congregational Church in
Portland, Maine (where Harry and his wife Ellis have long been members)
for "A Service of Memory and Thanksgiving," much of which was designed
according to Harry's wishes.  The Opening Song was John Bettis and
Richard Carpenter's "Top of the World," accompanied by Bill on guitar and
sung with gusto by the gathered community.  The pastor offered a powerful
meditation on the theme "You are Accepted," grounded in the Word that all
is good, received, approved and possible.  The program contained some of
Harry's favorite inspirational passages: Romans 12:20, John 13: 34-35,
and Thich Nhat Hanh's commentary on happiness.

If you would like to share with the Bliss family your memories of Harry
when your journey intersected his, you may send them to The Rev. Bill
Bliss, whose e-mail is pastor at faithinbath.org.

We will deeply miss the upbeat, future-oriented, caring presence of this
fine human being.

Joe and Marilyn Crocker


The following obituary appeared in the Portland Press Herald, Wednesday,
September 15th.

"Harry Amerman Bliss, 84, of 40 Bay Road, South Portland, died early
Sunday morning, Sept. 12, 2004.  His lifelong vocation as a physician led
him to deep engagement in social service, Christian faith, and political
activism.  He was married on Sept. 11, 1948 to Ellis Lardner Kitchell,
with whom he raised four children, Lisa Bliss Eaves, of Opelika, Ala.,
Jane Bliss of Portland, Emily Bliss Lesser of Concord, Mass., and Bill
Bliss of Bath.  He delighted in the love of his eight grandchildren and
their parents.

A perpetual student, Dr. Bliss graduated from Princeton University in
1941, and Harvard Medical School in 1944.  He served one year in the US
Navy Medical Corps, 1945-46, then began his medical practice in Portland,
where he established the first cardiac catheterization laboratory in
Maine.  He was called back into the Medical Corps, 1953-55.  After twelve
years as a Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois in
Chicago, he returned to medical practice in Portland in 1967,
specializing in cardiology and internal medicine.  His interest in the
fair and efficient delivery of medical care led him back to school at the
University of Michigan, where he received the Master of Public Health
degree in 1974.  He then established the Primary Medical Care Center in
Portland, an early model for providing ongoing ambulatory medical care,
especially for impoverished people.

Combining his dedication to medicine and public health, he served in many
public roles, including Governor for Maine of the American College of
Physicians, from 1978-82.  He published extensively in medical
literature, and was honored with numerous awards, including the Award for
Distinguished Service in 1980, and the Laureate Award of the American
College of Physicians in 1987.  He retired from active medical practice
in 1988.  Most recently, until August 2004, he worked with the staff of
Maine Medical Center to develop an in-depth analysis of the problem of
diagnostic error.

His Christian faith led him to Africa, India, and Chicago, working with
the Human Development Projects of the Ecumenical Institute.  He was a
lifelong student of the Bible and theology.  His local faith community
was Portland's State Street Church, UCC, where he was a student, a
teacher, a leader and a servant.  In response to the proliferation of
nuclear weapons, he became active with Physicians for Social
Responsibility.  His curiosity about the challenge of nuclear disarmament
let him to study at Columbia University, where he received the Master of
Political Science in 1987, and to Yale University, where he was a
postdoctoral fellow in Political Science from 1994-96.  He was most
interested in the power of nonviolent direct action as the most
courageous and effective strategy for achieving cooperation and peace.

An avid appreciator of life, Harry Bliss was known for his joy, modesty
and curiosity.  He loved all the arts, especially opera.  For an alumni
newsletter in 1991, he wrote, The breadth of expression in the human
species continues to astonish me and to affirm each day the needlessness
of boredom.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 2 PM on Saturday,
September 18, at State Street Church.  Memorial contributions may be sent
to Shalom House, 400 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101."


Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D.
Crocker & Associates, Inc.
123 Sanborn Road
West Newfield, ME 04095
Tel. & FAX: (207) 793-3711