Thursday, March 31, 2005

Kurt In December 2004 - Steve Erickson

03/31/2005

I met Kurt Harms in Alice Springs during a TDY assignment at the Pine Gap facility in December of 2004. I had talked to him on the phone a few times before this, but it was during the 3 weeks in Australia that I had the pleasure to get to know Kurt. Dave Genetti, Kurt, and I got to spend a lot of time together as we were all working days in a little 8’x10’ “closet” full of computers and sleeping within about 120 paces of the work entrance. Dave and I liked to try to surprise Kurt with a good joke in order to provoke the loud percussive explosion of a laugh ("HAH!") that was uniquely Kurt’s. We ate about a third of our dinners in the town of Alice Springs, and since Kurt knew the area, he served as tour guide. Barrumundi, a local variety of fish, was his favorite meal, and he showed us several restaurants that served it well. Oscar’s was perhaps our favorite dinner stop as the barrumundi was always excellent, and the service was very good. The waitresses got to recognizing us when we came in and so I took a picture of them posing with Kurt and Jared Gottlieb (another TDY’er).

During dinner, Kurt would like to expound on financial theories, but when pressed, he would tell of the ‘adventures’ he had experienced. He told about the experience in Indonesia where he and another Raytheon employee had to be evacuated from the country during a revolution. (Our security officer tells us this event is largely why we have to all carry the “Employee Locator” cards when we travel, with phone numbers to call when we leave the country or return.) He told us about being kidnapped in Mexico right outside his hotel. Remarkably, even though they asked him for his money, he did not tell them about the several hundred dollars hidden in his shoe. They released him safely, but a friend told him later that it was surprising they didn’t check his shoe since that is such a common hiding place for money. In another story, he was a passenger in a small plane with a friend as the pilot. Conditions were marginal with a low cloud ceiling, they were flying in a valley between mountains, and the pilot did not have an instrument rating. As the clouds dropped lower they dropped altitude until they could see trees. Then they had to double back, making a blind turn among the mountains. A few days later, they had almost the same experience with a low cloud ceiling, but this time over water. Another couple of close calls.

I have a couple of uploaded pictures (in Kurt’s travels) of Kurt, Dave, and myself in front of the Alice Springs sign and at a visit to the Alice Springs Reptile Museum. The shot that I like best is where he is holding the snake and looking at the camera. He has a wild look in his eye that was characteristic of Kurt when he was enjoying life. I’ll miss that look. And the laugh.

Steve Erickson

Friday, March 25, 2005

Assorted Comments and Pictures from Family and Friends

03/25/2005

We found some pictures of Kurt with Mehn on his laptop, and have posted one in the photo gallery.

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Kurt Harms

03/24/2005

He could carry on a conversation with anyone!  And Kurt could shock a listener with the depth and breadth of his casual knowledge.  Then in the next second he would shock you with his innocence.

He was truly one of the nicest persons you would ever meet, and he will be missed sorely. He died in a tragic car accident while working in Australia on March 16, 2005.

Friends and Family are welcome to upload thoughts, pictures, and memories into this site.