The World lost a true hero on Saturday September 12th when Richard F. Harley passed away. Rich was 59 years old and is survived by his wife of 37 years, Evelyn, and his three sons Eric, Mark, and Andy.
Rich died in New York City after suffering a heart attack while swimming the length of the Brooklyn Bridge. A competitive swimmer his entire life, Rich had begun swimming in order to raise funds and awareness for Daraja Academy. Daraja Academy is one of Kenya’s first, totally free high schools serving girls of poverty who otherwise would not have been able to attend.
The gifts Rich gave to the school are immeasurable. He had donated thousands of dollars of hardware and materials, sifted through and helped ship well over 50 boxes of second hand books for the Daraja Academy library, but his most remarkable was that of his son Andy. Rich believed in his son and the project so much that he personally financed Andy’s year of volunteering at Daraja Academy. It is accurate to say that Daraja would NEVER have been able to begin as successfully as it did this year without Andy.
Rich showed us all how to live. He served as the “voice” of the Terra Linda Trojans for well over a decade, announcing both football and basketball games for the high school even after his sons left. He will be missed by 1,000s of Terra Linda High School who grew up as his baritone voice described the athletic highlights of their younger years.
That same strong, yet caring voice benefitted the Carr Educational Foundation and Daraja Academy as well. Rich served as emcee and auctioneer for the non-profit and was very successful bringing the young girls to life, though they were half a world away.
A memorial has been created to honor Rich Harley and help the family with some of the economic burdens brought on by his passing, additional money raised will go straight to the renovation of the freshman girls dormitory which will be renamed in his honor. Please, make a contribution to the memorial so that future years of Daraja Academy students will know of this remarkable man.
Thank you,
Jason and Jenni Doherty
Daraja Academy Founders
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