Harriet Gould Nesbitt, 85, wife, mother, grandmother, avid golfer, painter, community volunteer, retired realtor, and lifelong optimist, died peacefully of stage IV melanoma on October 26, 2019 surrounded by her family.
Born September 2, 1934 in Philadelphia to Wilhelmina Gunn Gould and William Winston Gould, she grew up with her younger sister, Elizabeth, in the Philadelphia and Cleveland areas. After graduating from Shaker Heights High School, she studied at Duke University, where she was active in the student union, the synchronized swimming club, and Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She met her husband of 62 years, Tom, on a ride home from Duke to Ohio over Thanksgiving in 1955.
Harriet earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Duke in 1956. Harriet and Tom married in 1957, starting life together in Durham, N.C. Harriet worked as a secretary for the law firm Everett & Everett and the Office of Ordinance Research while Tom completed his education.
They moved to Irvington on Hudson, N.Y. in 1962, and to Short Hills, N.J. in 1966. While raising five children, Harriet earned her real estate license and joined Burgdorff Realtors in 1979. With her deep knowledge of the community, keen negotiating skills, warmth, and commitment to helping people, she built a career in real estate, working with many clients and colleagues and winning numerous awards over her 22 years. She often said during her professional working years that she only did three things in her life – go to school, raise children, and sell real estate – but that raising children was her proudest achievement.
Harriet and Tom retired to Amelia Island, Fla. in 2001 and spent summers in Cooperstown, N.Y. She was a deacon at Amelia Plantation Chapel and a member of the Plantation Artists’ Guild & Gallery and enjoyed playing golf, reading, and painting in watercolor.
Harriet will be remembered by her husband, Tom; her five children and their spouses, Martha Limber and Mark Limber, Will Nesbitt and Michelle de Savigny, Tommy Nesbitt and Linda Schmid, Elizabeth Nesbitt and Dimitris Klapsis, and Katie Nesbitt and Jens Dakin; seven grandchildren; her sister, Elizabeth Kelly; and many close family and friends.
The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and Community Hospice.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. December 28, 2019 at Amelia Plantation Chapel.
Memorial gifts in Harriet’s memory can be made to Amelia Plantation Chapel to support missions around the world: Amelia Plantation Chapel, 36 Bowman Road, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 or ameliachapel.com/giving.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors