William Harbaugh Obituary

HARBAUGH, William Henry William Henry Harbaugh, who taught for ten years at UConn during the 1940s and 1950s, died Thursday, (April 28, 2005) at his home in Virginia, at 85 years of age. His initial career plans did not include academics. After high school in Newark, he signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, but to his father's relief was dropped five weeks into spring training. He then went to the University of Alabama to play baseball and study journalism. After graduation in 1942, he went to Europe with the U.S. Army. Captain of Battery "A", 62nd AAA Gun Battalion, he fought across North Africa, through Sicily, Southern France, and up into the region of Germany from which his ancestors had emigrated in the 1730s. He would tell his children that his experiences in the war convinced him that "Harbaugh, you are an ignorant man." The day after disembarking in New York he applied in person, and in uniform, for admission to the Master's history program at Columbia University. He was admitted on the spot, and he always assumed that his Captain's uniform and Croix de Guerre outweighed his undistinguished undergraduate record. A year later he was hired to teach American history to veterans at the newly established Fort Trumbull branch of the University of Connecticut, in New London. He taught there for three years, leaving to enter the Ph.D. program at Northwestern. Harbaugh returned to UConn in 1953 at Storrs, where he taught seven years and served as the faculty adviser for the Young Democrats. On leave, he was a senior fellow at the Yale Law School, then resigned from UConn and spent a year at Rutgers. He taught four years at Bucknell, and 24 years at the University of Virginia. His experiences in the war and his training as a historian fueled his active opposition to the war in Vietnam. Professor Harbaugh greatly enjoyed teaching undergraduates as well as graduates. His 1961 book Power and Responsibility was for many years the standard biography of Theodore Roosevelt. His biography of John W. Davis, Lawyer's Lawyer, was a finalist for the 1973 National Book Award and a runner-up for a Pulitzer. The Theodore Roosevelt Association awarded him their Distinguished Service Medal in 2005. His wife of 52 years, Virginia Wayne Talbot, survives him, as do a daughter and two sons, Emelyn Hartridge Harbaugh of Charlottesville, William Talbot Harbaugh of Eugene, OR. and Henry Richmond Harbaugh of Bloomington, IN. For 40 years he and his family returned to the village of Chaplin near Storrs. In July, a memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Church in Brooklyn. Details will be posted at http://harbaugh.org/WHH/.

Published by Hartford Courant on May 1, 2005.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for William Harbaugh

Not sure what to say?





6 Entries

Eighteen years after Prof. Harbaugh's passing I thought of him, checked out Obituaries and came across this obituary. I was President of the Young Democrats 1958-59 during my last year at UCONN. Bill Harbaugh was an outstanding and lively Professor--one of my 2 or 3 favorites at UCONN, before I went on to graduate at the Univ. of Wisconsin Law School in 1962. I have remained a strong Democrat--undoubtedly in part because of Prof. Harbaugh's insights. He was a great teacher!

Paul S. Nakian

School

February 19, 2023

Bill was a dear friend and a wonderful neighbor in Chaplin, CT. We are going to miss him when summer comes. We had such happy times sitting on the deck and laughing and talking, listening to his stories. Then we had one of Wayne's great meals before walking home in the dark.

Diane and Marvin Cox

May 20, 2005

At the University of Virginia, he was the perfect mentor to his graduate students. He pushed us hard to do our very best and congratulated us when we did it. He followed our lives, encouraged our careers, and became a perfect lifetime friend. I miss him.

Jeanie Conner

May 12, 2005

I had the distinct honor and pleasure of knowing this great man. He will be sorely missed. Bill and I served in the same unit, the 62nd, in WW II. Our conversations over the past year centered on those times. Catherine and I send our condolences to the family.

Les DeNike

May 6, 2005

I met Bill Harbaugh upon his arrival at the University of Virginia in 1966. He guided me through my graduate work, for which I am so very grateful. Our bond endured over thirty-nine years. I visited Bill and Wayne regularly, both in Charlottesville and in Chaplin, CT. Bill Harbaugh touched endless number of his former students. While he will be greatly missed, he imparted an indelible mark as biographer, historian, teacher, and dear friend.

Michael Ebner

May 5, 2005

I was a student of Professor Hargaugh in 1971 at the University. I always enjoyed his lectures and insights. i will especially remember his thoughful discussions of the war. I am sorry to hear of his passing he was a wonderful teacher.

Tim Coppage

May 2, 2005

Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results

Make a Donation
in William Harbaugh's name

Memorial Events
for William Harbaugh

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support William's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor William Harbaugh's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more