We are devastated to announce that after an extended struggle with his health, Harold Kornhaber passed away on Sept. 26 at the age of 78.
Harold had a way of being a memorable person, even from the start. Born to Ida (Weiner) and Samuel Kornhaber in the Bronx, N.Y., he surprised the entire delivery room by being a triplet — preceded in birth by his twin brothers, Michael and Gerald.
At 18 he drove across the country headed to San Francisco, where he became a self-described “hippie” and embraced the colorful lifestyle of the 1960s. During this period he had many near-unbelievable experiences including running errands for Sonny and Cher, playfully throwing punches with Muhamed Ali, and being part of the Haight-Ashbury counterculture movement. Despite all these experiences, his most profound memory from this time was the evening he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Shortly after this his life changed forever as he was accepted into Texas A&M. Harold moved to Dallas and began working on a degree in psychology. During this time he got a part-time job as a housepainter’s assistant and worked his way through school, attending classes in the evenings and eventually earning his BA.
After graduating he quickly realized that he was happier being outdoors rather than sitting in an office. He continued painting houses and business, eventually becoming a highly demanded master craftsman in his field with more than 30 years of experience.
In 1985 he met his future wife, Retha Franklin, while attending church. Retha fondly remembers him tripping over a pew in his haste to introduce himself to her. Their courtship began shortly thereafter and they were married a year later. They gratefully welcomed two daughters — Havilah (b.1987) and Sarah (b.1988) — and began life as a family.
Harold had decided early on that he wanted to raise his children in the country, far away from the city lifestyle he had been brought up in. So, in 1992, the family moved to Pagosa Springs, Colo. Harold often remarked that this was the happiest time of his life. He was an avid outdoorsman and when he was not up on a ladder, Harold could often be found target shooting with friends and family, bartering at flea markets and reloading his empty brass late into the winter evenings. A memorable and moving orator, Harold was invited to speak on several occasions. Most meaningful to him was the time he was invited by the Community Fellowship Church to speak to the congregation of more than 450 people. He was also a gifted writer, having several pieces published locally and contributing to a compilation of cowboy poetry that was later turned into a book.
He is survived by his two daughters, Havilah and Sarah; along with his siblings, Arthur, Barry, Eugene, Michael and Barbra. He is also survived by his various nieces and nephews.
