Harriet Eleanor Radin

Harriet Eleanor Radin, 97, passed away on Monday, December 9 in Tucson, Arizona, with her children and grandchildren nearby. Just a few weeks prior, she was celebrating Thanksgiving surrounded by three generations of her loving family; witty and vivacious, Harriet was, as ever, the life of that party, and the dynamic center of the Radin family.

Born Harriet Lerner in Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 4, 1927, she was the beloved third child of Abraham and Dora (née Gottlieb). Her family later moved to Kearny, New Jersey. As a young girl, her siblings – Ruth, Milton, and Paul – would tell her that the fireworks on the Fourth of July were for her birthday. She graduated from Kearny High School in New Jersey and attended college classes in northern California where she received all "A's".

Harriet met the love of her life, Norman Radin, at an early age because Norman was her brother's best friend. They fell in love at a dance and after World War 2, they married in 1946 . She co-piloted Norman’s 30-year career as an Air Force pilot and colonel, moving together to various bases in Morocco, South Dakota, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, California, Maryland, and New Jersey. She would also volunteer at hospitals at the various Air Force bases. They eventually settled in Potomac, Maryland. Through these adventures, her four children Andrea, Jeff, Cheri, and Marc were born. Harriet embraced her role as Air Force wife, doting mother, and the most popular person on any block: she was loved immediately and deeply by neighbors on every Air Force base or community they lived in, keeping in touch with many for decades from across the country.

Harriet and Norman retired in San Diego in 1989. During their retirement, they stayed active and adventurous. As avid travelers, Harriet and Norman went around the world together to places like Cuba for their honeymoon, Israel, Spain, and Japan. Later in life, they enjoyed taking their grandchildren on cruises through Mexico and Alaska. She was a member of her synagogue Congregation Beth Israel, an excellent cook, and a homemaker. Her family were always extremely eager to visit her and Norman in their Del Mar home to spend quality time with her.

Harriet is survived by her children Andrea Hughes (David), Jeffrey Radin (Wendy), Cheryl Radin, and Marc Radin; her nine grandchildren; and her eleven great-grandchildren. An avid user of technology well into her 90s, her grandchildren would love to receive her FaceTime calls and social media comments filled to the brim with butterfly and heart emojis.

She will be deeply missed, and no Radin reunion will be nearly the same without her.