Hugh Charles Everett Warren Harewood

 

Hugh Charles Everett Warren Harewood, former Manager of The Communications Department at the World Trade Center passed away from congestive heart failure on June 2, 2013 in Bronx, New York at the age of 89. He was a force, who defined his life by ‘doing’.

Hugh was born on August 13th, 1923 to Gertrude Viola Archer-Harewood and James Leslie Harewood, and just one year and ten days after his only sibling, Phyllis, on the island of Trinidad and Tobago. Hugh arrived in United States of America, in 1926 – two years before the beginning of the Great Depression --with the return of his mother and sister to Harlem, USA.

Hugh’s character was hewn by the streets of a vibrant, though economically-challenged Harlem community. His quick-mindedness garnered him acceptance to the prestigious DeWitt Clinton High School, where his love of sports was realized with his joining of the School’s baseball team in the Pitcher’s slot. At 16 years-of-age, Hugh upped his age in order to enlist into the all African-American 369th Regiment. With the breakout of World War II, the 369th shipped-out to Hawaii, where Hugh was stationed and served as a cook. It was during this time, he taught himself to play the organ. His proficiency earned him the additional role as chapel organist, for religious services.

At war’s end, Hugh returned to New York City. He completed high school at Harlem’s Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts, where his natural acumen for music was further realized. In 1946, Dolores Aurelia Williams met Hugh when she joined the same choral group that practiced at Wadleigh High School. Dolores invited him to see her sing at the Flash Inn in Harlem. Thus, a bond was formed through music, and they were married, August 10th, 1948.

A pivotal job opportunity presented itself when Hugh was hired by the Bi-State agency, The Port of NY and NJ, in 1958. He first joined the Agency as a member of the Port Authority Police, as one of the few African-American Officers hired at that time. After a time he applied for employment as a Clerk-Typist in the Maintenance Department of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Due to his meticulous approach to work and to the Equal Opportunity era, Hugh was afforded the opportunity to take a management placement exam whose results ranked him commensurate with someone with a Master’s Degree.

By retirement, in 1987, Hugh served as Administrative Assistant to the then Executive Director of the Agency, Austin J. Tobin. From this position, he was appointed to head the adjunct Manager of the Model Cities Program at the Port – where African-Americans were trained to enter the white-collar workforce. Additional promotions afforded him the role of Manager of the Communications Department that had domain over Photography, Inter-organization Communication, Typing, Transcribing, Audio/Visual, Display Services, Graphics, Reproduction, and the Mailroom Departments.

Once retired, he had more time to spend with his wife. He and Dolores traveled the world visiting the Caribbean and all continents minus Antarctica. Some of his most cherished past times we’re playing the piano and organ, and he truly enjoyed listening to classical music in the car, at home or at the Metropolitan, which he frequented regularly.

In addition to service to the Port Authority, he was the treasurer for his 369th Veterans Regiment, who annually sponsored dances, Father’s Day functions and group excursions. Hugh also held the long-tenured position as the Chairman of the Victory Daycare Center, located in the Bronx, where he lived from 1962 until his death.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years Dolores Aurelia Harewood; Daughter: Pamela Harewood; Sons: Keith Harewood, Hugh Harewood, David Harewood, Philip Harewood; Grand children: Modupé Carpenter, Dayo Harewood, Lesly Imani Watts, Philip Wayne Harewood Jr., Lea Jenel Harewood, Shola Renay Malika Harewood and Great Grandchildren: Micaela Marin-Harewood, Aria Marin-Harewood.

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