The Rt. Rev. Joseph M. Harte, Second Bishop of Arizona, died in Phoenix on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, 2 days after the 60th anniversary of his ordination as a priest, and 10 days after the death of Alice, his beloved wife of 58 years.
Bishop Harte was born in Springfield, Ohio on July 28, 1914, son of Charles Edward and Ruth Elizabeth Harte. He graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania with the help of a football scholarship. Not only did he excel in football (with a very brief professional football career), Harte was also a Golden Gloves Boxing champion and president of his Fraternity, Beta Theta Pi.
Following his 1939 graduation from The General Theological Seminary, and ordination at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, he served congregations in Miami, Oklahoma and Tulsa. It was at Trinity Church, Tulsa, that he met Alice Taylor on Easter Sunday 1941. He proposed that day, on their first date. She returned to her native Pennsylvania the follow day, having neither accepted, nor refused. A week later she telephoned to accept his proposal. They were married on October 14, 1941.
The Hartes moved to Rochester, New York, Austin, Texas and Erie, Pennsylvania to serve congregations. It was while he was Dean of St. Paulšs Cathedral in Erie that he was elected Suffragan Bishop of Dallas in 1954. Dean Harte was consecrated Bishop on the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul at St. Matthewšs Cathedral in Dallas. He served there until his election as the second Bishop of Arizona in1962.
His Episcopate was distinguished by the extraordinary growth of the Church in Arizona. Bishop Hartešs heart was in mission, and he worked to establish many, many new congregations during his 16 years as diocesan. In the late 60šs and early 70šs, as the nation was torn by rioting, he worked with Rabbi Albert Plotkin and Msgr. Robert Donohoe to successfully prevent rioting in Phoenix. As a result, they were honored with the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
The Book of Common Prayer was one of Bishop Hartešs great loves. He is the author of several booklets about the development of the prayer book, and rejoiced in the opportunity to serve the Standing Liturgical Commission, 1968-1972, during the revision process. Of the numerous organizations he joined, his association with the Society of St. John the Evangelist, with his fraternity, and with Rotary International were primary.
Perhaps most of all, Joseph Harte will be remembered as an extraordinary lover of people. His ability to recall names was renowned, and simply an indication of his love for each and every human being he met.
Following his retirement in 1978, he spent the next 20 years as Bishop in Residence at All Saints, Phoenix, enjoying the weekly Day School Services most of all.
He is survived by three children: Victoria Harte Money of Eugene, Oregon; The Rev. Joseph M. Harte, Jr., of Flagstaff, Arizona; and Dr. Judith Harte of Albany, California; and 5 grandchildren.
A requiem Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m., Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix, on Wednesday, 22 December. Committal in the Trinity Columbarium will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix, or to The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Flagstaff, Arizona.
May both Alice and Joseph, rest in peace, together.
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