Dr. Harry C Henderson III

Harry was born on January 17,1943 in Omaha, NE. He was the oldest of the four children of Irma and Dr. Harry C. Henderson, Jr. Raised primarily in Nebraska, Harry attended Central H.S. in Omaha, NE. He was a classmate of eventual NFL Hall of Famer Gale Sayers and even jokingly claimed that Sayers copied his work in algebra class. After a year at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, NE, Harry went on to study & graduate from the University of Omaha. The height of his academic achievement occurred in 1969 when he graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine.

It was during high school and college that Harry would meet, fall in love with and eventually marry the love of his life, Margaret Ann. At the young ages of 21 and 20, they were married on November 24, 1963 at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Omaha, NE. Married life continued early on in Omaha, but Harry’s career in medicine ultimately led them to stops in Phoenix, AZ, Durham, NC & Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Finally, in May of 1975, now with four children, Harry and Marge settled in La Mesa, CA amidst the foothills of Mt. Helix. Harry also began his psychiatry practice that same year and spent the next 42 years, most often seven days a week, faithfully serving the those in need in the East County.

When not working, Harry spent countless hours outside creating beautiful landscapes replete with roses and bougainvilleas in the front and backyards of his home on Mt. Helix. He could also often be found working on his tan by the pool. Harry always prided himself on being the first to have the latest and greatest in electronics, from big screen to plasma televisions, to the loudest sound systems, the largest monitors, advanced printers and computers of the time. He loved playing cards, never passing up a chance to play a game of Hearts, Solitaire or Spades, and in his later years, Go Fish. Harry especially loved his cars. We have fond memories of him behind the wheel of his luxurious blue Lincoln Continental, but his real passion was for his Chevrolet Corvettes, especially his black Z06. A weekly trip to Price Club/Costco was an unfailing part of Harry’s routine and always resulted in a bounty of food, beverages, flowers and, inevitably, some men’s clothing. Harry was an avid sports fan and a proud supporter and longtime season ticket holder of the San Diego Chargers. The Duke Blue Devils & Nebraska Cornhuskers were also near and dear to his heart. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and brother-in-law, Harry was a tireless provider and unconditionally supported the needs and aspirations of his immediate and extended family.

Harry would want you to remember him as a selfless, kind, and generous man, possessing an incredible work ethic, a playfully amusing, sometimes ornery, side and especially as “on second thought, an extremely good-looking man, thank you!”

“The Center of Our Universe” was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

Harry was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Ann Henderson, mother and father, Irma and Dr. Harry C. Henderson, Jr., and granddaughter Jessica Henderson. He is survived by his four children, Todd (Brenda) Henderson, Traci Henderson, Harry C. Henderson IV and Dr. Trevor (Jill) Henderson; His nine grandchildren Desiree’ Henderson (Justin) Vidano, Lauren Henderson & Brooke Henderson (Mario) Carmona, Spencer & Cole Henderson, Cameron & Candace Henderson and Riley & Tanner Henderson; Three great grandchildren Harper, Olivia & Owen Vidano; His brother Dr. William (Ruth) Henderson, sister Muriel (Ron) Cisar and sister Sally Fredericks, all of Omaha, NE, as well as many nieces, nephews and loving in-laws.

A celebration of Harry’s life will be held later this Spring on a yet to be determined date and time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that family & friends donate to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in his memory.