Jeffrey Eugene Harris

Harris, Jeffrey Eugene, a lifelong resident of Washington, DC, died peacefully in his sleep at his summer home in Hull, Massachusetts on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. He was 60.

Jeff was the beloved husband of Anna-Liza (Brennan) Harris. Together they shared 34 loving years of marriage. Jeff and Anna-Liza met when she interviewed him for an internship. It is rare to learn someone’s GPA before a first date, but he got the job and the girl. Jeff was the devoted father of Michael G. Harris and Elizabeth K. Harris, both of Washington, DC. While his children were growing up, Jeff was a regular presence at Michael’s soccer games and tennis matches and Elizabeth’s swim meets—always with a camera in his hand. Jeff enjoyed photographing his family’s activities and the beautiful sunsets from his porch in Hull.

Jeff was a cherished son of Donald B. and Dorothy J. Harris of Lewes, DE and Bethesda, MD. He was the dear brother of Donald M. Harris and his wife Dr. Jane Baxter of Washington, DC, and Lindsay A. Harris and her husband Peter Schaffer of Falls Church, VA, and the dear brother-in-law of Marie (Brennan) Niland of Hull, MA. Jeff is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Jeff was a senior strategic advisor with Sellers Dorsey & Associates and a leading expert on Medicaid financing.  He cared deeply about his work, which involved strengthening Medicaid for vulnerable populations with limited access to health care.  Jeff gave enormously of his time, and provided good counsel to his colleagues and many friends in the world of healthcare finance.  Before joining Sellers Dorsey, Jeff was a principal of Spivey/Harris Health Policy Group, was a senior policy analyst for Medicaid issues at the National Governors’ Association, and served in a similar role for the American Public Welfare Association.

Jeff graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (BA 1984) and the George Washington University (MPA 1986). Jeff also graduated from the Landon School in Bethesda, MD in 1980 and later served on Landon’s Board of Trustees.

Jeff had many life-long interests, especially opera, architecture, American history and—passionately—DC sports.  His favorite weekly ritual was a Monday morning rundown of the weekend’s spectator sports with a dear friend.  Jeff was known for his quick witted sense of humor and, most of all, for his boundless love for his family.  He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held on a later date.  The family requests that any remembrances of Jeff take the form of donations to Wellspring, https://wellspringmultiservice.org, a charitable organization in Hull, Massachusetts.