John Clifton Harrington

HARRINGTON – John Clifton, 84, formerly of Setauket, NY, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2020 in Hingham, MA.

Beloved husband of Judith for 61 years; loving father to Jay Harrington (Shi Kyung Roh), Thomas Harrington, and Christy Quinto; cherished grandfather to Jackson, Nicholas, and Antonio; dear brother of Richard Harrington (Kathy), Kathryn Harrington, and Elsa Krah (Fritz).

John was born on a farm in Hamilton, MO, and grew up in Missouri and East Moline, IL. He attended Graceland College in Iowa and the University of Illinois. There he met the love of his life, Judith Morse. They moved to New York where John studied College Administration at Teachers College, Columbia University, as a Kellogg Fellow in the Community College Leadership Program. They raised their children in Setauket, NY, residing there for 50 years. John served as Vice President for Administrative Affairs of Suffolk County Community College, overseeing the planning and construction of campus facilities. A skilled craftsman who made everything from furniture to fireplaces to hanging stained glass light fixtures for his church, John once said that his idea of heaven consisted of “unlimited projects, unlimited tools, and unlimited endurance.” He will be remembered for his good nature, kind and gentle spirit, integrity, and humility. He lived his last decade with Alzheimer’s disease.

Due to the pandemic, a celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of John may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Habitat for Humanity.