Black Education Awareness Month

“ Know the past, shape the future”

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In Honor of Black History Month, Urban Financial Services Coalition Celebrates the Life, Achievements and Dedication of Nathaniel C. Harris, Jr.

Nathaniel Carroll Harris, Jr. was born to Nathaniel C. Harris, Sr. and Susan Satterwhite Harris on January 1, 1941 in Hackensack, New Jersey.  He was their only child.  The family owned and ran a successful dry cleaning business there.  When his parents divorced, he and his mother moved to Montclair, NJ with her family.  He attended Glenfield Elementary School and graduated from Montclair High School in 1959.  Nat then attended Hampton University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture in 1964.  While attending Hampton, Nat pledged into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.  As a member of the ROTC at Hampton and upon graduation, Nat entered the United States Army.  Nat fought in Vietnam as a combat engineer and received several commendations having fought so gallantly for our country.  He received an Honorable Discharge as a United States Army Captain. On Veterans’ Day in 2008, Governor Jon Corzine presented Nat with the Distinguished Service Medal for meritorious service in ground combat during the Vietnam War in the Southeast Asia .
While attending Hampton University, Nat met his wife-to-be, Frazeal Larrymore and they entered into holy matrimony on February 1, 1969.  Out of that union came a wonderful daughter, Courtney Celeste Harris.  His proudest moments were the birth of his daughter and his two precious grandsons.
Nat later attended Pace University where he received an MBA in Management and Finance from the Lubin School of Business.  Nat was one of the first African American men to achieve success in upper management in the banking industry.  His career spanned over 35 years in financial services before his retirement as a Senior Vice President at PNC Bank in 2004.
Nat ’ s professional, civic, cultural and social organizations included: founding member and past President of the Urban Financial Services Coalition (formerly known as the National Association of Urban Bankers), Member of the Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, former Vice – Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bloomfield College, President Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the Montclair Art Museum, Trustee of Drumthwacket Foundation, Trustee of the NJ Theater Alliance and Director and Executive Committee member of the Greater Newark Business Development Consortium.  Nat was acknowledged in Who’s Who Among Black Americans, Who’s Who in the East and Who’s Who in Industry and Finance.
Nat loved his community and his friends. He had a winning personality.  People gravitated and loved to be in his presence.  He had an ability to relate to anyone who was interested in engaging in good conversation.  Nat was an avid reader and had a voracious appetite for reading about current events and world affairs.  He had a memory that could give names, dates, times and places of occurrences as far back as when he was a child.  He often told many stories about his grandfather and growing up during the Civil Rights Era. He was a great spokesperson and outstanding communicator. He was also a great educator because he was able to impart knowledge on a variety of subjects.  Nat mentored many people who came to him for assistance and advice. He was truly a “renaissance man”.
Nat died in April 2009.