Barbara Cleary Harris, a pioneer of the turf chemical business and longtime leader of Cleary Chemical, passed away on Tuesday, July 5 at her home in Skillman, N.J., with her family by her side. She was 83 years old.
Mrs. Harris was born in New Brunswick, N.J., and lived in Highland Park and raised her family in North Brunswick. She moved to Skillman in 2000. Mrs. Harris attended Mount Saint Mary's Academy in Watchung and then graduated from Georgian Court College where she earned a degree in early childhood education.
She was a teacher for a few years before deciding to enter the family business, W.A. Cleary Corporation and became president of the Cleary Chemical Corporation. Over the next 40 years, she turned it into one of the most successful privately owned agrichemical companies in the United States. When she began her career, she was one of the few women who travelled the country selling turf chemicals. She was also the owner of Tara Greens Golf Course.
She was predeceased by her parents William and Mary Cleary along with her sisters, Mary Christman and Jane Barnum. Mrs. Harris is survived by her son, Robert Harris of Somerset and her daughter Mary Ellen Warwick and her husband Jack of Somerset, a sister Margaret Cleary of Somerset and her four grandchildren Ryan, Katherine, Alexandra and Victoria Warwick and her nieces Evelyn Barnum, Mary Beth Barnum and Sally Zeigler.
"My mother loved the turfgrass industry and made many friends over her 50-year career," said her daughter Mary Ellen Warwick.
“Her legacy lives on in the Cleary brands turf managers still use today," said GCI Publisher Pat Jones. "She was a friend to many, many superintendents and a tremendous supporter of the business."
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 8 at St. Augustine Church in Kendall Park and interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Piscataway. Arrangements are under the direction of Gleason Funeral Home, 1360 Hamilton Street in Somerset.
