Barbara S. Harris, known for revitalization of urban communities in Los Angeles, dies from mesothelioma
Barbara Harris had been working in property management for thirty years when in 1992, the Rodney King riots left devastated areas of Los Angeles in need of rebuilding. Putting her lengthy background in real estate to use, Harris was moved after the riots to co-found the Ross Minority Program in Real Estate at the University of Southern California. The program is a two-week, post-graduate intensive training for students interested in the redevelopment of minority communities. To date, more than 650 people have completed the training. When she wasn’t involved in community affairs or property management, Harris was an actor in neighborhood theater productions and a writer. Her 1972 science fiction novel, “Who is Julia?” was made into a TV movie in 1986.
Harris died of mesothelioma, a rare but fatal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, a substance long used in building materials, including insulation and floor and ceiling tiles. The disease lurks silently for decades after exposure and is often not discovered until its late stages.
For the full story, go to the LA Times.
