My condolences to the entire Harnisch family as well as his friends. I met Jim in C.H.S.S. and since I worked at the Commack library throughout H.S. I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Jim all that well. We actually reunited when Dan Samela ran a H.S. reunion party in or around 2012. After that, Jim was a frequent participant of watching the football games on Sunday at Dan's house in Smithtown as well as going over for bbq's and a swim in Dan's built in pool in the summer. As I was one of Dan's best friends the three of us wound up spending a lot of time together and eventually started playing round-robin tennis every other Sat. with a group of others at Haupp. H.S. I was there when Jim broke his wrist using one of his old wooden tennis rackets. I also wound up playing golf with Jim every three weeks or so at Crab Meadow golf course for the past four or five years. He used to get so frustrated because he could no longer break 100, let alone 90 at his "home" course. I have to say he was the most honest golfer I ever knew - I'd be marking the score card and ask him what he had on a blow-up hole and he would say 11. I'd remind him that it was dusk and we were rushing to barely finish 18 (we usually only played at twilight reduced rates) and were sometimes putting using the light from the cellphones; but he wouldn't here of it - he shot 11 ! He would threaten to never go back again until I'd call him up and talk him into it. Whenever we would get to the 7th hole and hit our drives on the hill on the left and successfully roll them down into the fairway, he'd remind me we had to thank his father for that advice he gave him years ago. The last time we went out was Nov. 10, 2020, and he had rarely beaten me for the longest time, and didn't care - " I play the course not you", but that was one of his good days. He wound winning by two strokes shooting a 97. I think it was because we were playing with a kid who was just drafted by the N.J. Devils and his competitive spirit came out. I'll certainly miss those rounds of golf and tennis. Jim, Mike Minotti and I went to the tennis U.S. Open in 2019. Jim brought his camera and spent the entire day taking photographs in the old original stadium - I think it was called Louis Armstrong, as we didn't have expensive enough tickets to get into Arthur Ashe. Mike and I spent a couple of hours there and then rambled around the entire complex and came back hours later and he was still there taking pictures. He never stopped to eat or check out any of the matches in the smaller venues - it was photo after photo until we left after the day session. I'm still in shock and it will be very difficult to fill the void he's leaving. He was much too young and still had a lot to give of himself. I'll miss him immensely. R.I.P. my friend and I'll try to remember your advice about slowing down my golf backswing and fully following through on my tennis forehand and backhand.

Fly with the angels Jim.I will never forget you. Until we meet again. Bill Burns

I wish I could be there with you all. The last time I saw Uncle Jim, I was packing my car for my move to Savannah to start my journalism career. I wish my Uncle Jim could watch me grow as a journalist - I was looking forward to his constructive criticism :). I produced my first broadcast tonight, and I like to think he was watching from above. Love you Uncle Jim.

To the Harnisch Family, my colleagues and I at Randall's Island Park Alliance were so sad when Tom told us he lost his brother Jimmy. We want to send you our condolences, love and wish you strength during this difficult time.

My sincere condolences to the Harnisch family. Wishing you peace and comfort during this hard time.

To the entire family, my wife and I offer our most sincere condolences. Jim was both a great colleague and good friend to both of us. I've known him since we started as temps at American Legal Systems some 38 years ago. Both of us kind of rose through the ranks there over the years. My wife also worked for ALS out of the Dallas office where he spent time as well. As project managers Jim and I both spent a great deal of time yelling at sales people who basically "gave away the farm" to win projects and stuck us with ridiculous budgets to meet. We played in a softball rec league in the DC area for several years - where I got to know and experience his competitive nature. I remember an Orioles game we went to when his brother Peter was pitching. At some point he came out of the game with runners on base. I just recall there was some rather colorful commentary from us about the lousy bullpen that year and how they always seemed to give up inherited baserunners when Peter pitched. I don't remember which pitcher's wife she was, but a lady in front of us cooly turned around and proclaimed that her husband had not given up a single inherited runner all season. Whether she was right or not - it did kind of shut us down. As others also noted, Jim was always a generous friend when needed. The day after my wife and I moved into our current house back in 2007, I ended up in the hospital with pancreatitis. Anyway, after a week in hospital and some surgery I went home still kind of messed up. My wife didn't want to leave me at home going back to work so Jim offered to come down and stay a few days. He also helped unpack many boxes of books for us since we had not even started our unpacking. After he left the DC area we had some good calls regarding politics and sports (usually a mix of agreement and argument). And he always seemed to call with consoling words when my UVa basketball team came up short in the NCAA tournament the last few years - until that glorious 2019 season. He still called to remind me that they were pretty lucky in that tournament - he wasn't wrong. I'm going to miss those calls - rest in peace man. -Jeff and Brenda Slater.

The stories and memories shared here are such a beautiful testimony to the life of a man who cared so deeply and so well for so many other people. In this terrible time of loss and grief, may there be some comfort in remembering Jim's countless acts of kindness, generosity, and love. Seeing how many people will carry him in their hearts forever is proof that Jim's spirit will live on. Jim lived in such a way that people will always feel blessed to have had him in their lives. We send our deepest condolences to Ed and Merc, and to all who loved this very special man. - Bill and Ruth Ann Harnisch

James E. Harnish, aka Jimbo-Bimbo. Life is short...shorter for some than others. Nary a week passes without reminiscing about my best good friend and lifelong confidant, my Cortland State University floor mate, later off-campus roommate; we were intimately involved in too many memories, places, dramas, adventures, misadventures, road trips and quarrels -- I can't keep them all cataloged chronologically. He cut me to the quick sometimes and mentored me like a big brother through the rockiest times too. A tremendous, talented, and competitive athlete, on par with younger brother and former all-star MLB right-hand pitcher Peter, but, alas, maverick Jim rarely possessed the temperament and discipline necessary for organized team sports. Visiting often, he cherished our children and never failed to remember a birthday or Christmas gift for them. My kids named a kitten after him. "Dig-it" sufficed for both a greeting and a farewell. We first met, during a full-throated, caustic verbal brawl among our college floor mates (of which I was only a jaw-dropped spectator), who were arguing over the 1977 NCAA basketball Final Four tournament that was playing on the television set in the common area of Higgins Hall. The argument, just for the sport of argument perhaps, seemed to focus over the attributes (or lack thereof) of a UNC Charlotte star forward nicknamed Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell and Jim was clearly the out-numbered antagonist egging-on the pugilists. A died-in-the-wool liberal Democrat, I am pretty sure Jim and I hold the Guinness record for White Castle burgers consumed on road trips between Commack and Cortland – and I cannot forget his typical Burger King order "double Whopper with cheese with heavy, extra, everything", as he called it. We replaced the brakes on younger brother Paul's Mercury Cougar in his parent's Commack driveway, and we jerked the engine for a clutch change-out in our Cortland backyard on my brother's MG Midget. When I was deployed to Iraq and later Afghanistan, he would send care package after care package, with something from home for all the men and women of our medical team. Whatever it was, Jim was always there, starting a fight, retreating in a huff, and then popping up later with a trademark heartfelt apology. One of a kind, a mold broken with this one. So sorry for everyone's loss. Dig-it, Jimbo. See you in the next life.

I am in disbelief and deeply saddened to learn James is no longer with us. It was just two months ago when we last hung out to see a light show at Randall's Island. If you knew James, you know he loved going places to take photos. I'm grateful to have had the privilege to see him in the midst of this pandemic. James had a significant positive impact in my life; I'll be forever indebted to him. I will never forget our trips bowling, to the movies, the arcades, amusement parks, and best of all our Christmas gathering. James would play Christmas songs in the car for months hahaha; I used to love it! He taught me the values of Christmas as a child and because of him it is my favorite time of the year. I promise to continue his tradition of seeing the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center and donating to the less fortunate. James- I'll miss you telling me how proud you are of me, our long phone conversations, and your selfless acts. I love you. - Karina Munoz

Dear Jim, I don't have the right words to say goodbye but growing up together with you in Commack since we were 5 or 6 years old with our awesome group of friends, all of us going to Long Acres elementary, JFK Jr High and Commack South, putting STP stickers on our bikes and our baseball cards with a close pin in the spokes to make that cool sound, going down that Huge Red slide at Bishop McDonald's camp, getting chased by the farmer when we played and hid from him in the cornfield and stealing ears of corn, ( I always told my mom he gave them to us because he liked us!) banging on the milk machine to get extra half gallons of milk, hiking at Weld's lake, playing endless games of football in my backyard and at Long Acres, you were the best quarterback ever and I caught almost all of your passes! Camping out, bun-running, riding our bikes literally everywhere, Sleigh riding at sunshine acres, who can forget our half crazed but still friendly snowball fights, and so many summers swimming in my backyard pool then later at Addy Benkovitch's pool? Playing frisbie, listening to cousin Brucie on AM radio then later Imus in the morning, who could ever forget hanging out at the corner of Hedgerow Lane and Cornfield Lane the day Dawn Millie moved in? Playing poker like Bill said with his Grandma, and Jim you never had a poker face; sharing my extra sandwich with you in the school cafeteria because my mom always made me two; then later on it was always you Jim who defended the weak, or the poor or the disadvantaged; your politics were always about what was right for everyone and for what just made good sense. I will never forget these things and so much more Jim because they are part of who I am and who all of us friends are, and I will never forget you and your warmth, your friendship and your incredible spirit. Until we meet again, -Mike Lee

Jim was admired, respected, and revered by the many lives he touched in his lifetime. We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Thinking of you during this difficult time. Love Betty & Charlie Averna

Damn you, Jim. All of us had so much more we wanted to say to you and ask you. You left us as the enigmatic person you always were. We loved you and we know you loved us. That was never questioned, even during disagreements about sports or politics (and girls?). I regret not nailing you down on a few things over the past 55 years. There are things I really wanted to know, but you were tactfully evasive on certain subjects. We've had our golf trips interrupted for one reason or another in recent years, but I thought we would finally get together again this year. I wanted you to finish your book so that I could read it. It was you that reunited the Bun Runners for the 35th year class reunion, and I am so grateful for that. We share messages to this day and we wanted to meet again to say goodbye to you, together. Unfortunately, that will not happen. We will all be together in spirit, though. We will offer condolences and prayers to your amazing family. We will miss you more than you could have predicted. This one really hurts... Love you, bud. John Staab

During my time as an inpatient at Pilgrim Psych Center, Jim was my most frequent visitor at the friends and During my time as an inpatient at Pilgrim Psych Center Jim was my most frequent visitor at the friends and family center on weekends. He would bring in takeout food and we would pig out and watch sports on television all weekend. If the weather was good we would sometimes go outside to play catch with the football, play basketball, or sometimes some tennis. During these visits, Jim always supported me and always reminded me that I should never give up hope because at some point I was going to be discharged back into the community again. And I don't know how many thousands of dollars Jim spent on calling cards for me ... calling cards that allowed me to talk to Tess and Mike every other day to check in and see how they were doing. You see Jim would simply give you the shirt off his back if he thought that it would make your life better. Rest In Peace, big brother. I will always love you and will always miss you. Paul

My deepest condolences to the Harnish family. It's been a long time since I last saw Jim, maybe June 1974. Still when I heard the news it was a shock. People come and go through your life. Many you simply forget. They make no meaningful impression. Jim impressed me right from the start. He was smart, talented maybe a little angry and full of life. I never forgot him and I am truly saddened by his passing.

I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to all of Jim's family. I met Jim in 1980 when he stopped by our student apartment in Maryland in response to our ad seeking a roommate. Jim came in and sat down and proceeded to talk nonstop for more than an hour. After he left, I turned to my other roommate and asked whether it would work having someone in the apartment that talked so much. He said, sure, it will work out, and it did, and Jim became one of my best friends for the next 40 years. We did a lot together over the years, watching countless games, going to many, talking politics and family, and sharing meals. Just last month we made plans to meet in Baltimore this summer for an Indians-Orioles game. Jim was a friend who would do anything for you. Generous and goodhearted. Someone you were always happy to see. Hard to believe he is gone. Goodbye, Jim. You will be greatly missed. Rest in peace, my friend.

To the Harnisch Family, I offer my most sincere condolences for your loss of Jim. Jim left a legacy of connection to us all;and I write this with tears in my eyes because like you, I will be missing him and thinking of him often. Like Sandy H, I think of Jim when : I hear The Dutchman.... see or hear a reference to Jaws... or hear a Harry Chapin song. Jim loved and was proud of his family and truly valued his time with all of them. Although I had not met his family, I knew quite a bit about them from his stories. He would oftentimes say that he had to curtail spending in order to give his many nieces and nephews proper Christmas gifts; and we would engage in lively "discussions" regarding his generosity and charity to others, and not just family. I would frequently remind him that he had given plenty to the recipients of his generous spirit and that it was ok to accept the generosity of others once in awhile but he always refused. On our many road trips, he was particularly animated in his view of sports teams and politics....well, he did have a captive audience of 1. Always apologizing after his diatribes, although it wasn't necessary because I thoroughly enjoyed listening to, and learning from him. Jim would regale me with stories of old friends and girlfriends, and it was always entertaining. We drove to Ca together and had an epic trip of which he kept a journal. I hope that it still exists. He was talented with the pen. In recent years, we spoke every2-3 weeks and got together whenever we could and had a wonderful golf trip planned for Feb or March. Getting together with Jim was always a bright spot in my trips back to NY and I don't think that It can be replaced. Jim didn't know it, but he gave more to us in this world than he ever took. Again, I am so sorry for the loss of your son, brother and uncle. He was my good friend and I will miss him dearly.

Jim and I met in kindergarten in 1960, we were classmates in elementary, junior high, and high school, graduated in 1974; then off to college to make our mark. We lived a few blocks from one and other when our town Commack was more of a village than a town. We delivered Newsday and the LI Press together, played little league baseball and backyard football. We sat at each other's kitchen table; we knew each other's family. Everyone wanted Jim as a friend. My grandmother was a card player, as we got older, Jim, John, Randy, Glenn, Mike, and Fish used to come over on Saturday night to play poker. When Jim was bluffing, my grandmother used to call him out, and Jim never could stop laughing, he had such a great laugh. Jim used to argue with my father about what a crook Nixon was go figure! Jim would also argue with my Dad on how unjust the war in Vietnam was. My dad was a WWII vet, Jim was saying what could not be said in my house in 1970, but he made his point. After our HS reunion in 2009 we were able to spend time together again golfing and hanging out in various places. After all this time passed, there was a bond among us, when we were together; time stood still. Jim never changed, he could be prickly on the outside, but we all new he was a kind and gentle soul with a heart of gold; he never stopped talking about his brothers and sisters, nieces, and nephews. Jim's love for his parents and family will live with us forever. I know Jim would want us to keep up his fight, and to always go out and make some noise and joyful sounds. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers... William Kramer

Jim: Thanks for being a great big brother and the greatest uncle my children could ever ask for. Thanks for all the great pictures you took, the way you always delivered gifts at Christmastime, and the loads of great advice you gave me througout my life. I will always be proud of the courage you showed and how hard you fought this. I love you and will miss you. - Tom Harnisch

I am sitting here, listening to Steve Goodman sing 'The Dutchman.' I remember first hearing it 44 years ago when Jim would play it with the door open in the room next to mine in Higgins Hall at SUNY Cortland. We bonded over music and became good friends during that year I attended Cortland. We wrote letters to each other, saw each other when we could and would sometimes have very long phone calls to keep each other up to date on events in our lives. He was always such a wonderful friend and made me feel like I was an important person in his life. I will miss him dearly. Jim, long ago, you used to be a young man, and I will remember that for you. Love Always, Sandy Holmes Sending my deepest sympathies to all of Jim's family.

Jimmy- I will always remember you for your optimistic cynicism, and intense and open-hearted nature. But mostly I will remember you for the kindness you showed to Paul, Michael, Tessa and me during both the good and difficult times. You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Patty

The other night I started thinking of an Uncle Jim visit when I was a Freshman in High School. I had a basketball game and Uncle Jim, my parents, and my brother Mike, home from college, travelled to North Attleboro to watch the game. As the game progressed in an empty gym with some parents watching in the bleachers. Uncle Jim was pretty fired up and cheering/commentating like he was court-side at MSG. By the 4th quarter Uncle Jim had made his presence know and the crowd slowly slid down the bleachers away from Jim )including my parents) except my brother who was equally animated. It was awesome and I loved it. We will all miss you Uncle Jim. Love - Pete, Kate, Ben, John, & Ryan

Bob and Marcia Ingram remember him from the boys on the block always playing ball. He was in my class in high school& I remember him as being quite the sports person. We know that his family was a large and loving one like Bob's. We are sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the pain you're feeling. Nothing can heal that. I will pray that his soul is in the hands of our Creator and is being deliver to all your families that have gone on before him.🙏

Uncle Jimmy was the only reason we saw our dad for years and years. He'd drive 7 hours just to share a hotel room with our dad and eat way too many appetizers. He would always act like daddy was a pain in the ass but he did so much for us. That's how he worked. He hid his kindness behind his crass and outgoing nature. Uncle Jimmy was like my guardian angel for years and years. He texted me first on my 21st birthday, and since then texted me everytime I wanted to give up. Every rough patch, hard moment, and congratulations, Uncle Jimmy made sure to check-in on me. Sometimes he'd just text and say "How are you?" Other times he'd hear big news and give me words of encouragement. I considered him someone very, very special to me, like a best friend. The last thing he texted me was congrats on my engagement, and I'm not even sure he knew he was the only extended family invited to the wedding. The last thing I texted him was that he needed to get better because he had to be at the wedding. When I was younger I thought he was just the crazy Uncle, but as I got older I realized I agreed with everything he said. I was so excited I finally realized my Uncle Jimmy was just like me and I was excited to continue growing a bond as we aged together. I'm not sure how to comprehend how that won't happen. So I think I'll just remember him as he always was: an entertaining, rambunctious, radical son of a gun. I love him because he's just like me, so now I'm gonna live for him.