Benjamin Harrison (Harry) West

Benjamin Harrison (Harry) West passed away Monday, July 14, 2014, at the age of 72. Harry was born in Calhoun, Georgia. He married Jane Munday of Doraville, Georgia, in 1962, and lived, worked and raised his family in Atlanta for 50 years. Harry is survived by his wife Jane, son Jeff, daughter Susan Johnson (Robert), and grandchildren Caroline and Josh Johnson. He most enjoyed working, teaching, reading, and spending time with his grandchildren. Harry graduated from Calhoun High School followed by the University of Georgia, where he received both Bachelors and Masters degrees. Harry’s work career spanned many decades of public service, highlighted by 27 years as Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), metropolitan Atlanta’s regional planning agency. During his tenure at ARC, Harry became a highly respected figure in planning, public administration and leadership initiatives, both locally and nationally, including serving with the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games; National Civic League; United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta among many others. He was a Fellow of the Institute for Regional Community and a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. Perhaps his proudest professional moment came in 1999, when the Georgia Institute of Technology honored Mr. West with the naming of the Harry West Chair of Quality Growth and Regional Development in its School of Architecture. Harry finished his career teaching at Georgia Tech as a Professor of Practice. Harry was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Funeral Services were conducted Thursday, July 17 at 11 o’clock at Oglethorpe Hill Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association , www.lung.org . H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30319 had charge of the arrangements. This announcement is made for the family courtesy of Thomas Funeral Home.