Donald S. Harrington
Encyclopedia
Donald Szantho Harrington (July 11, 1914 Newton
, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
- September 16, 2005 Romania
) was an American
politician and religious leader.
in 1939, and began preaching at the People's Liberal Church on Chicago's South Side. The same year, he married fellow seminary student Vilma Szantho (d. 1982). They had two children: Loni Hancock
and David Harrington.
Harrington became a minister of the Community Church of the New York Unitarian Universalist in New York City
in 1944. He retired as senior minister in 1982.
He was State Chairman of the Liberal Party of New York
, being the "face" of the party which was ruled with an iron fist by Alex Rose
until 1976.
In the New York state election, 1966, Harrington ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York
on the Liberal ticket with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. They were defeated by the incumbent Republicans Nelson Rockefeller
and Malcolm Wilson
, but Harrington was elected a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1967.
In 1984, he married his first wife's niece, Anika Szantho, who was ordained a Unitarian minister in 1990. They lived in Transylvania
where Harrington was active in economic development and his wife served several village congregations.
Harrington died from sequels of a gall bladder surgery, done in spring 2005, from which he never fully recovered.
A past president of United World Federalists, Harrington wrote Religion in an Age of Science (1965).
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
- September 16, 2005 Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and religious leader.
Life
Harrington graduated from the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1939, and began preaching at the People's Liberal Church on Chicago's South Side. The same year, he married fellow seminary student Vilma Szantho (d. 1982). They had two children: Loni Hancock
Loni Hancock
Loni Hancock is currently serving in her first term as the representative of California State Senate District 9. The 9th Senate District currently includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Dublin, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Livermore, Oakland, Piedmont, Richmond, and San Pablo...
and David Harrington.
Harrington became a minister of the Community Church of the New York Unitarian Universalist in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1944. He retired as senior minister in 1982.
He was State Chairman of the Liberal Party of New York
Liberal Party of New York
The Liberal Party of New York is a minor American political party that has been active only in the state of New York. Its platform supports a standard set of social liberal policies: it supports right to abortion, increased spending on education, and universal health care.As of 2007, the Liberal...
, being the "face" of the party which was ruled with an iron fist by Alex Rose
Alex Rose
Alex Rose was a labor leader in the American Hatters' Union, a co-founder of the American Labor Party, and vice-chairman of the Liberal Party of New York.Rose, the son of a wealthy leather tanner, was born in Warsaw, Poland...
until 1976.
In the New York state election, 1966, Harrington ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
on the Liberal ticket with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. They were defeated by the incumbent Republicans Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
and Malcolm Wilson
Malcolm Wilson (New York)
Charles Malcolm Wilson was the 50th Governor of New York from December 18, 1973, to December 31, 1974. He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1939 to 1958. He also served in the Navy during World War II...
, but Harrington was elected a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1967.
In 1984, he married his first wife's niece, Anika Szantho, who was ordained a Unitarian minister in 1990. They lived in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
where Harrington was active in economic development and his wife served several village congregations.
Harrington died from sequels of a gall bladder surgery, done in spring 2005, from which he never fully recovered.
A past president of United World Federalists, Harrington wrote Religion in an Age of Science (1965).
External links
- Donald S. Harrington talks to Richard D. Heffner about contemporary events and his friend and colleague Norman Cousins; Open Mind, 1991
- The Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist
- Liberal Party of New York
- "Donald S. Harrington, 91, Liberal Crusader, Dies", New York Times, September 20, 2005