Thomas Chadick Harris

Thomas Chadick Harris, 77, passed away at home on April 12, 2026.

Viewing at 1:15 p.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at St. Thomas Becket Catholic Church, 3550 SW Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76133

Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park, 3344 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107.

Thomas Chadick “Chad” Harris was born on May 21, 1948, in Dallas, Texas. He was the first of three children born to Rev. Thomas Allen Harris and Mary Ann Chadick Harris. Growing up as the son of an army chaplain, he lived in many places around the world including Germany, Japan, and various states across the U.S.

Chad was a scholar all his life, having possessed a true passion for learning. He read widely, spoke multiple languages, and greatly enjoyed deep conversations on history, literature, philosophy, theology, and much to his family’s amazement (and dismay) he loved to do calculus for fun. He earned his undergraduate degree in history at Schiller College in Heidelberg, where he discovered a love for opera and began his studies in the art of fencing. He studied English history at Emory University, and later earned a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Texas at Arlington. He was employed by Tarrant County College, where he made lasting friendships over the course of four and a half decades.

He developed a love for ballet and performed with Ballet Concerto Fort Worth for 25 years. There, he met his future wife, Cynthia Ann Hamill. They were joined in sacramental marriage in 1989 and shared 36 lovely years devoted to one another and were best friends. During all that time he always remembered her with flowers.

The couple were blessed with two children, Ian and Elspeth, who were his pride and joy. He cherished his home and family life, overseeing their home-based education for 20 years as a member of the Arlington Association of Home Educators. He rarely missed a part of their lives, be it learning new things together, attending sports games, going on camping trips, visiting the theater and museums, or sitting proudly through dance recitals. Additionally, he was a patient and caring pet parent to many creatures great and small, even though he never actually requested any of them. His sense of humor was known to be both unassuming and highly effective.

Above all, he was devoted to God, led his family in the Christian faith, and kept prayer as a cornerstone of his household. At his home desk he always had at hand his prayer book, his Bible, and his favorite prayer card with St. Joseph the worker with the child Jesus. The world is missing the quiet, calm, steady presence of a very wise and gentle soul.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia; his son, Thomas Ian Harris; his daughter Elizabeth “Elspeth” Harris; and her husband Dracius “Drake” McKee. He will be missed always by his extended family and many friends.