JON VITZ HARRISON
1940–2026
Jon Harrison (85) of Bainbridge Island, Wash., passed away peacefully on January 29, 2026, with his wife, Nora, at his side. Jon could fix anything—from an aging dishwasher to a spinning spacecraft carrying liquid rocket fuel. Jon was a rocket scientist, handyman, inventor, woodworker, gymnast, car restorer, entrepreneur, and fisherman (by his own cheerful admission, fishing was not his strongest skill). He pursued every interest with curiosity, precision, and excellence. He was happiest when immersed in a project in his shop.
Born Jon Arthur Harrison in Washington, D.C., in 1940, Jon was the first child of Ruth and Arthur Harrison. A slow, methodical learner, he did not fit conventional educational molds. Undeterred, he went on to Penn State, where he adapted, excelled, and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. There he discovered gymnastics, a passion he carried throughout his life. He earned a master’s degree in engineering science at Stanford University, where he also competed on the exhibition gymnastics team, trained alongside Olympians, and won a national title on Rings.
Jon held aerospace engineering positions at Lockheed, Aerospace Corporation, and Hughes Aircraft, which funded his Ph.D. degree in dynamics at UCLA. Later, while consulting for Ford Aerospace, he uncovered a critical design error in a satellite for India, preventing mission failure and earning a letter of commendation for Ford from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In 1980, Jon met Nora Vitz; they married in 1982 in Roseburg, Ore. He took her last name as his middle name. They founded Applied Dynamics Laboratories, built around Jon’s invention for analyzing fuel slosh in spinning spacecraft. His work supported all the major aerospace companies in the United States, Europe, and India. His testing systems flew on NASA’s space shuttle. He encouraged Nora to launch her business in corporate communications, and he made custom cabinets for her office.
Between contracts, Jon built three homes for himself and Nora, restored classic cars to Best of Show condition, and hand-built an extraordinarily authentic Cobra 289 replica. A lifelong train enthusiast, he later constructed a museum-quality model-train layout of the Cajon Pass in the basement of their Portland home. Jon continued to compete in gymnastics, often outperforming much younger athletes. At age 80, he could still execute a front lever. He coached young gymnasts, mentored student engineers, and rode his Vespa along the back roads of Bainbridge Island, where he and Nora retired.
Logical, creative, dependable, and quietly quirky, Jon often said in his later years that he had lived a grand life. He achieved success in his career, hobbies, and love.
Jon is survived by Nora; his sister, Barbara Havill, and her husband, Eric; extended family; and their black Labrador, Rica. Per his wishes, there will be no service. Donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy or the American Cancer Society.
Those who knew him imagine Jon now beside a mountain stream, patiently practicing the one skill he never quite mastered — fishing.
PHOTOS:
Jon, 2006
Nora and Jon, Portland, 2021
Jon executing a front lever move in a gymnastics meet
Jon's hand-built Cobra replica, Portland
Jon with black Lab Riley heading off to fish