Janet R. Harris

Janet Reust Harris, of Marietta, NY died Thursday February 6, 2020 after a long illness. Janet was born in Syracuse in 1934, daughter of Jacob Reust and Dora Louise Cole and grew up in Marcellus, NY. She graduated from Marcellus High School and attended Erie Community College, majoring in dental hygiene, and earning an Associate’s degree. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SUNY Cortland. Janet worked as a public health dental hygienist in the Ithaca/Candor area initially, and then accepted a position at the then-newly created Onondaga Community College as an Assistant Professor on July 9, 1962. Janet was asked to chair the new Dental Hygiene Department, a position in which she served for many years. She created the curriculum, hired faculty and supervising dentists, secured housing for out-of-town students and achieved national accreditation for the program. She designed community-based learning experiences for her students at area hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and schools. In 1965, Janet became the Dean of Women, later being promoted to Associate and then Full Professor. She added an additional A.S. degree program in dental hygiene. Under her leadership, the department grew and recruited students from both the U.S. and Canada and achieved national recognition through her work in collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. She mentored hundreds of students and maintained close ties with many throughout her life. After her retirement from OCC in 1989, Janet worked with SUNY Cortland’s Health Department, serving as field work supervisor for public health undergraduate students for three years. In retirement, she travelled to England, Scotland, the Holy Land, Scandinavia and her beloved Switzerland, where she had distant relatives. She had a large group of friends and extended family with whom she spent a great deal of time. An avid animal lover, Janet was known for her fondness for all animals. Her pets and her students were her “children,” and she loved and taught so many. She was also a rabid Syracuse University basketball fan, scheduling her activities around game times. She married Platt J. Harris on May 31, 1969. Platt and Janet were communicants of St. James Episcopal Church in Skaneateles and served on various boards and the vestry there. Janet and Platt enjoyed active membership in the Skaneateles Country Club for many years. Platt predeceased her in 1995. Surviving is her first cousin, Robert Ramsden (Joan) also of Marietta, Ardyce Lake of Rochester and numerous other second and third cousins, among them Rebecca Mortlock (Jeffrey) of Skaneateles, Allison Hourigan (David) of Navarino, Robert Ramsden of Colorado Springs, John Ramsden (Jana) of Chandler, AZ. Calling hours are Tuesday February 11th at 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Plis Funeral Home, 33 North St., Marcellus. Services following at 1 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church in Skaneateles. Contributions may be made to the SPCA, Molloy Rd., Mattydale, or to St. James Episcopal Church, Skaneateles.