Béla Maximallian Haris

Béla M. Haris, 85 of West Chester, PA, passed away on May 11, 2019, while surrounded by his loving family.  He was the beloved husband of Angela (née Fekete); father of Clinton Haris (Brenda) and Michelle Haris Kichline (Michael); brother of Robert Haris (Joan), Dr. András Haris (Rita) and Mary Kirchlechner; and grandfather of Amanda and Andrew Kichline and Allison and Nate Haris.  He was predeceased by his sisters, Eva Béres and Judit Gáal.

Béla was born on June 14, 1933 in Miskolc, Hungary and was raised in Budapest.  Following his involvement as a student leader in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, he emigrated first to Montreal and then to New York City. 

Béla was awarded a degree in Modern Languages Education in 1955 from Eötvös Lorand University in Budapest.  He attended McGill University from 1957 to 1959 and was awarded his B.S. in Political Science in 1961 from Fordham University.  He also earned his M.S. in Economics in 1963 from Fordham University and pursued doctoral studies at New York University.   

Béla enjoyed a long career as an economist, focusing on the aerospace and defense industries.  Over the course of his career, he worked for Mack Trucks Worldwide, The Ford Foundation, RCA Corporation, Sperry Univac and AEL Industries. 

Family and friends are invited to his visitation on Monday, May 20, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Saint Katharine of Siena, 104 S. Aberdeen Ave., Wayne, PA; followed by his Funeral Mass at 10:30am.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bela’s honor to Catholic Social Services, 222 North 17th Street, Third Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com.