Harrison Law

Dr. Harrison E. Law, age 100, died in his assisted living care home Horizon Bay in Apache Junction on February 21, 2013. He was born November 14, 1912 in Nutley, N.J and lived there until his graduation from Nutley High in 1930. He did his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University and graduated in 1934. He then attended the college of physicians and surgeons at Columbia University and graduated in 1938. He served his internship at Hackensack Hospital in Hackensack, N.J from 1938-1940 and his surgical residency at Welfare Hospital New York City from 1940-1942. He was married to Emily Law, RN in 1940, who was then the supervisor of the pediatric dept. at Hackensack Hospital. Emily preceded him in death at the age of 92 in 2006 after 65 1/2 years of marriage. During World War II Dr. Law was a chief of medical service in both orthopedic and surgical sections for the next 4 years in the army with the rank of major. He served in camp Lee, Virginia and in England where he also participated in the invasion of Normandy as L.S.T surgeon. In 1946, Dr. Law organized the surgical residency at Hackensack Hospital and took a past graduate surgical course at N.Y medical college. He moved his wife, children; Hank, Goeff, and Ann to a northern Minnesota town named Virginia in 1952. He was a practicing orthopedic and general surgeon for 30 years there, associated with the Lennont-Peterson Clinic and Virginia Municipal Hospital. During that time he also traveled to other Minnesota towns to offer his surgical expertise. He remained in Virginia until 1982, when at the age of 70 he hit mandatory retirement age. He and Emily became full time residents in Queen Valley, AZ in 1983. They enjoyed many years of playing golf, bridge and bowling. He especially enjoyed working on his computer and keeping up to date. His greatest loves were golf, flying his planes, reading, listening to classical music and audio tapes. He didn’t get to fly as often as he would have liked, but did when he could fit it into his schedule around being a Doctor. He and Emily took their longest trip flying the Alaskan highway in 1968 to see their daughter Ann who was teaching in Anchorage at the time. He and Emily traveled the world together as well. He was preceded in death by his father Harrison Law, mother Grace, sister Jean, brother George, and wife Emily. He is survived by his three children Hank (Ronnie) of Brooklyn Park, MN.,Goeff (Diane) of Champlin MN., daughter Ann (Dan) of Bow, WA. and Queen Valley, AZ. Grandchildren Jeff, Adam, Jonathan, Brian, Julie, Michael, and Melissa and great- grand children Kyle, Alexandra, Brianna, and Emme. Dr. Law also was involved with the Virginia Rotary Club, the Masonic Organization and Shriners. He and Emily also hosted an AFS student from Argentina, Eddy Randrup, who was greatly influenced by Dr. Law and went on to become a urologist and lives in the New Orleans area. In his declining years, he lost his sight due to macular degeneration but kept listening to his audio tapes, sometimes nine a week from the Phoenix Library for the blind, and always had his classical music and operas to listen to. He also leaves many friends and acquaintances in Horizon Bay. He was truly a “gentleman” to the end. Arrangements entrusted to Melcher Mortuary Mission Chapel Mesa,AZ. Please visit www.melchermission.com to share memories of Harrison.