a tribute to jim harnett

I am stunned to hear this news I am stunned to hear this news and I am so sorry for his family, and I am so sorry for his family, for his co-workers, and for all of for his co-workers, and for all of us in the field of health and us in the field of health and human services that had the good human services that had the good fortune to work with Jim.fortune to work with Jim.

Mary CurtisMary Curtis

What a tremendous loss.  He will What a tremendous loss.  He will be missed by many.be missed by many.

Linda MilchLinda Milch Executive DirectorExecutive Director Long Island Advocacy CenterLong Island Advocacy Center

LONG ISLAND CARESLONG ISLAND CARES

MOURNS THE LOSS OF OUR MOURNS THE LOSS OF OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE, JAMES J. DEAR COLLEAGUE, JAMES J. HARNETTHARNETT

I always saw Jim as a unique breed---I always saw Jim as a unique breed---dedicated to the cause---with no dedicated to the cause---with no personnel agenda---trying to fight the personnel agenda---trying to fight the fight on behalf of those most fight on behalf of those most vulnerable.  I looked up to him in many vulnerable.  I looked up to him in many ways---trying to follow his lead and ways---trying to follow his lead and incorporate his tactics into much of incorporate his tactics into much of what I did. Word can not express my what I did. Word can not express my gratitude for the higher path he always gratitude for the higher path he always chose, nor for the sadness I feel.chose, nor for the sadness I feel.

Gwen O'Shea, President/CEOGwen O'Shea, President/CEO Health & Welfare Council of Long Health & Welfare Council of Long

IslandIsland

Jim Harnett not only stole our hearts but Jim Harnett not only stole our hearts but gave of his fully to Family and Children's gave of his fully to Family and Children's Association. The best way to honor a Association. The best way to honor a person like this is to carry on their person like this is to carry on their legacy and help to carry on his work and legacy and help to carry on his work and bring it to another level. I love you Jim bring it to another level. I love you Jim and promise to serve Family and and promise to serve Family and Children's with the same passion that Children's with the same passion that you showed in your tenure here. you showed in your tenure here. 

‘ ‘Til we meet again, Til we meet again, Pat Pryor-Bonica, ChairPat Pryor-Bonica, Chair

Board of Trustees Board of Trustees

    I cannot imagine how difficult it is I cannot imagine how difficult it is for each and every one of you to for each and every one of you to continue to move forward with continue to move forward with your work without Jim’s presence, your work without Jim’s presence, although if ever there was a spirit although if ever there was a spirit to motivate one to do so it would to motivate one to do so it would be Jim’s.  be Jim’s. 

Jan Barbieri, Executive DirectorJan Barbieri, Executive Director

Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc.Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc.

He was our hero, our leader and our He was our hero, our leader and our friend. He was patient, kind and friend. He was patient, kind and never too busy to help with a never too busy to help with a problem. He was the first one in problem. He was the first one in each morning and the pot of coffee each morning and the pot of coffee he started made Mineola feel like he started made Mineola feel like home. We were honored to work home. We were honored to work alongside him. alongside him.

Mary, Donna, Marisa, Craig & JoyceMary, Donna, Marisa, Craig & Joyce

Resource DevelopmentResource Development

I hope the staff is making it I hope the staff is making it through this with strong heads the through this with strong heads the way our fearless Jim would have way our fearless Jim would have wanted it. wanted it.

Dan BrownDan Brown

Former Board Chair and Member, Former Board Chair and Member, Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees

People of Jim’s caliber are few People of Jim’s caliber are few and far between and it was a and far between and it was a pleasure to have known him pleasure to have known him for the short time I did.   for the short time I did.   

Patrick Boyle, MSW Patrick Boyle, MSW Executive Director Executive Director Gateway Youth Outreach Gateway Youth Outreach

It is difficult to image our VocEd graduation dinner in May without Jim’s smiling presence, encouraging words and staunch support. We will strive, however, to keep alive his spirit in the years to come.

Jennifer Mertens, VocEd

What an unfathomable loss of an What an unfathomable loss of an extraordinary human being and a extraordinary human being and a most talented professional.most talented professional.

My heart goes out to Jim’s family My heart goes out to Jim’s family

and to you and his entire FCA and to you and his entire FCA family.  My sincerest condolences,family.  My sincerest condolences,

                              Louise Skolnik Louise Skolnik

While we are mourning the loss of While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil.meet him behind the veil.

Gerry BenjaminGerry Benjamin

Henry Schein, Inc.Henry Schein, Inc.

My condolence, to Jim’s family My condolence, to Jim’s family and Family and Children’s as well, and Family and Children’s as well, we have lost a tremendous we have lost a tremendous human being.  human being.  

Berenice Gomez Berenice Gomez

Member, Board of Trustees Member, Board of Trustees

My condolences to his family and My condolences to his family and the organization. This is a huge the organization. This is a huge loss for all of us.loss for all of us.

Linda MannLinda Mann

USTA EasternUSTA Eastern

He was a steadfast and He was a steadfast and courageous friend... courageous friend...

Roberta Treacy Roberta Treacy

Jim was one of those special people who Jim was one of those special people who made everyone feel loved.  He always went made everyone feel loved.  He always went out of his way to welcome and thank you.  He out of his way to welcome and thank you.  He always went out of his way to listen to what always went out of his way to listen to what you had to say and respect it.you had to say and respect it.

The last email I got from Jim was around 6 PM The last email I got from Jim was around 6 PM Friday night simply thanking me for some Friday night simply thanking me for some earlier input and wishing me a great earlier input and wishing me a great weekend.  Who does that any more?  I am so weekend.  Who does that any more?  I am so lucky to have met Jim.  He was a great friend lucky to have met Jim.  He was a great friend and will be an inspiration to me for the rest of and will be an inspiration to me for the rest of my life.  God bless you, Jim.my life.  God bless you, Jim.

Dick GraferDick Grafer Vice Chair, Board of TrusteesVice Chair, Board of Trustees

He was the kind of guy who was He was the kind of guy who was easy to be with, funny, kind and easy to be with, funny, kind and nice, helpful and a great social nice, helpful and a great social worker. worker. 

Rick Van DykeRick Van Dyke

My deepest condolences to all who had My deepest condolences to all who had the honor and privilege of working with the honor and privilege of working with Mr. Harnett.Mr. Harnett.

I worked with “Jimmy Joe” for twelve I worked with “Jimmy Joe” for twelve years at Covenant House.  They were years at Covenant House.  They were twelve of the most constructive, twelve of the most constructive, enjoyable years of my life!  Indeed, Jim enjoyable years of my life!  Indeed, Jim “…was the ultimate caregiver…” and “…was the ultimate caregiver…” and he will be sorely missed.he will be sorely missed.

Patrice G. Ward, former assistantPatrice G. Ward, former assistant

I sat on a panel with Jim at Hofstra a couple I sat on a panel with Jim at Hofstra a couple of months ago.  He said something so of months ago.  He said something so profound that night, something along the profound that night, something along the lines that working for a nonprofit will break lines that working for a nonprofit will break your heart but that you will learn it is the your heart but that you will learn it is the most rewarding thing you'll ever do.  He said most rewarding thing you'll ever do.  He said it with such compassion and true sincerity it with such compassion and true sincerity it really spoke to the students and the rest of it really spoke to the students and the rest of us on the panel that night. us on the panel that night.

Diana O'NeillDiana O'NeillLong Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn NetworkHandsOn Network

Jim was a great man, with a great Jim was a great man, with a great spirit. spirit.

Sergio Argueta, MSWSergio Argueta, MSWS.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc.S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc.

…No job was too great, no burden too heavy, no problem was seen as insurmountable if it would make life easier for someone who was struggling.

Pam Clark, EISEP

I remember the day we met Jim. There was a sense that everything was in good hands and that smile and greeting was so heartfelt. Long Island has lost a true caregiver and many have lost a friend. He will always be in our hearts and thoughts as well as in our prayers.

Meredith and Carl Doerge

He was so full of life and He was so full of life and someone who truly left this world someone who truly left this world a better place.a better place.

Cheryl M. ZimmerCheryl M. ZimmerOffice of the District Administrative Office of the District Administrative Judge, Suffolk CountyJudge, Suffolk County

Jim was a wonderful man who cared a Jim was a wonderful man who cared a great deal about the families that Family great deal about the families that Family and Children’s supports.  I pray that his and Children’s supports.  I pray that his family is able to deal with this sudden family is able to deal with this sudden loss and I pray for all of you.  I believe loss and I pray for all of you.  I believe this is a huge loss for the social agencies this is a huge loss for the social agencies in Long Island as well as those whom in Long Island as well as those whom you advocate for.  you advocate for. 

My prayers are with you.My prayers are with you. Marsha SimpkinsMarsha Simpkins Henry Schein, Inc.Henry Schein, Inc.

I would like to pay my respects to a I would like to pay my respects to a man all men should be measured man all men should be measured against.against.

   Diana O'NeillDiana O'Neill

Executive DirectorExecutive DirectorLong Island Volunteer Center, an Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn Networkaffiliate of HandsOn Network

It is truly a loss. A great guy!It is truly a loss. A great guy!

Bob DetorBob Detor

Long Island HomeLong Island Home

… …he truly was a good man who he truly was a good man who cared very deeply about serving cared very deeply about serving his community and doing the his community and doing the people’s work. people’s work.

George SuttlesGeorge Suttles

NYS Health FoundationNYS Health Foundation

I am one of the scholars that attend the I am one of the scholars that attend the Promise Project. Today you have come here to Promise Project. Today you have come here to witness a wonderful happening. This is a man, witness a wonderful happening. This is a man, who had so much talent and knowledge being who had so much talent and knowledge being sent to a better place so he can harness his sent to a better place so he can harness his talents and knowledge. If there is anybody out talents and knowledge. If there is anybody out there who feels sad or depressed put your best there who feels sad or depressed put your best foot forward because he is never gone. He will foot forward because he is never gone. He will always live on in your hearts and in the always live on in your hearts and in the scholars.scholars.

As one of the voices of the scholars, I would As one of the voices of the scholars, I would

like to thank him. I have attended the Promise like to thank him. I have attended the Promise Project for three years and have been in Mr. Project for three years and have been in Mr. Hartnett’s presence and legacy. Hartnett’s presence and legacy.

With Love and Joy,With Love and Joy,Aaron RinesAaron Rines& The Promise Scholars& The Promise Scholars