Theodore Harrington

A memorial service will be held Saturday for Ted Harrington of Corte Madera, a longtime Marin Municipal Water District engineer who devoted much of his time to church and community activities. Mr. Harrington died Aug. 5 in Kentfield, following a brief illness. He was 59 years old.
Born in Chicago, he moved with his family when he was 2 years old to Huntington Park, CA, where he attended local schools. He studied engineering at the University of Southern California before transferring to Occidental College. He graduated in 1958. He then attended the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo and graduated in 1961 with a degree in divinity.
Mr. Harrington went to work for the Marin Municipal Water District in 1965, beginning a distinguished career during which he earned numerous honors. In 1985 he was named Engineer of the Year by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers.
He enjoyed writing and wrote on a variety of topics. In his profession, he produced many papers on topics in engineering, and frequently made presentations at conferences and symposiums. He often held Sunday worship services with his colleagues at conferences.
He was a member and officer of many professional groups, including the National Association of Corrosion Engineers and the Amercan Water Works Association.
Among his many local activities was his membership since 1989 on the Corte Madera Flood Control Board, of which he served as chairman from 1990 to 1994.
Much of Mr. Harrington's personal time was dedicated to church-related activities. He was a member of Redwoods Presbyterian Church, where he sang in the choir, served as an elder, and delivered guest sermons. Mr Harrington's service as a church officer was part of a chain of family service unbroken for some 200 years, with members on his mother's side serving as church officers dating back to when the family was in Scotland.
Mr. Harrington also served as a member of the board of directors of Conscious Contact, an interfaith agency that works to provide religious service to 12 step groups. He was an avid reader and also enjoyed hiking and sports.
Mr. Harrington is survived by his wife, Maggie Harrington of Corte Madera; his mother, Pauline Harrington of Seal Beach; a sister, Peggy Bernard of Placentia; and three nieces.