Arland Harris Obituary

Arland (Al) Sidney Harris passed away on December 11, 2025 at the Juneau Pioneer Home. He lived a remarkable life and inspired all who knew him with his curiosity, intelligence, interests, and resourcefulness. Al was born on July 28, 1928 to Lionel and Nina Harris in Pomona, California. He spent his youth roaming the hills and deserts of Southern California, raising pigeons, attending school, and playing the violin in a youth orchestra. He worked in an orange packing house and textile factory as a teenager.

In the late 1940s, Al served in the Army for two years, in Washington D.C. and White Sands, New Mexico. He trained as a surveyor at White Sands, helping to position the launchers used to test the rockets from Germany. He served in the Naval Reserve and after the Korean war, was called up and stationed in Japan for two years. Following his service, he attended Fresno Community College, and then transferred to the University of California, Berkeley School of Forestry. He spent the summer of 1954 with the U.S. Forest Service as a Forestry Assistant based in Juneau, Alaska. Back at Berkeley in the fall, he met Bina Ellen Gray who was attending graduate courses at the University. Bina was ready for adventure, and had always wanted to go to Alaska. Al impressed her with his practical skills, amongst others. They married in February 1955 after a four-month courtship (Al knew a good thing when he saw it!).

After graduation they moved to Juneau where they built a house, raised a family, and enjoyed a full life. Al and Bina had three children: Margaret, David, and Marianne. The family spent happy years camping, hiking, boating, cross country skiing, and travelling in Alaska, Canada, and stateside. Al continued with the Forest Service, first working in the field and then as a research scientist with the Forestry Sciences Laboratory, conducting research projects and publishing articles. He specialized in Sitka spruce and reforestation, presenting papers at conferences, and consulting on the Snettisham project regarding windfall when the power lines kept blowing down. He had a great cohort of mentors, colleagues, and friends, including Tom Laurent, Doug Swanston, Bill Farr, Paul Haack, Karl Hegg, Keith Hutchison, Ray Taylor, Paul Hennon, and Ron Wood.

Al retired in 1984 after working for the U.S. Forest Service for thirty years. He and Bina enjoyed their retirement years, building a cabin in Gustavus, travelling across the United States and up and down the West Coast visiting their kids and grandkids. And finding the best bakeries wherever they went! They enjoyed spending time in the Southern California desert to view seasonal wildflowers and "fault finding" along the San Andreas, but always looked forward to returning home to Juneau. Al worked on projects in his shop and around the property, read about Alaskan history, and edited "Schwatka's Last Search: The New York Ledger Expedition" about an exploration through subarctic Canada and Alaska just before the Klondike Gold Rush. Al spent the last year and a half of his life at the Juneau Pioneer Home, surrounded by wonderful staff and fellow Alaskans, and visited by Bina, family, and friends. Al always stepped up, pitched in to do his part, and helped his fellow man. He imparted a love of reading, adventure, nature, and science to his family.

Al is survived by wife Bina Harris of Juneau, Alaska; children Margaret (Rick) Quisenberry of Oakland, California, David Harris of Juneau, Alaska, and Marianne (Peter) Van Kessel of Bend, Oregon; sister-in-law Charlotte Schuyler of Albany, California, niece Jen Nebeker, and nephew Chris Schuyler; grandchildren Jason Quisenberry, Sarah Van Kessel, Thea Van Kessel, Joe Van Kessel, and Lucas Van Kessel; and great grandchildren Harper Dorsey and Finn Dorsey. A private observance is planned, but please raise a skoal in remembrance! The family can be reached at: 4400 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK 99801