In Remembrance: Kevin Harrington ’60 Died on January 7 2013

A passionate defender of the undefended and a true Renaissance Man with interests in music, art, and books, Kevin Harrington died on Monday, January 7, 2013, in the presence of his wife, Peggy, at their Mill Valley home.

A San Francisco native born on November 30, 1938, Dr. Harrington graduated from Town School, Lowell High School (1956), Yale University (1960), and UCSF Medical School with honors (1964). He interned at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 1965, served three years in the army (1966–1969), and did an orthopedic residency at UCSF (1969–1972). He was assistant chief of orthopedic surgery at San Francisco County Hospital from 1972 to 1977 before entering private practice in San Francisco. He was an honorary member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society, a member of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons and the Russell Hibbs Orthopaedic Society. He had numerous visiting professorships throughout the United States, Europe, and South America. He held numerous academic appointments, authored more than a hundred papers on orthopedics, and presented at professional meetings worldwide. He was on the editorial board of several orthopedic journals and authored a book on the Orthopaedic Management of Metastatic Bone Disease. He served on the medical admissions board for UCSF for many years and was a consultant to the National Football League Players Association. He served on the board of the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the American Bach Soloists.

Kevin Harrington epitomized his dedication to the Hippocratic Oath, “to preserve the finest traditions of his calling and to long experience the joy of healing those who seek his help.” To that end Kevin gave unstintingly of his time and expertise. He volunteered at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti and at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut, and finally after retiring from private practice in 2003, Dr. Harrington committed his time, talent, and great enthusiasm to the Marin Community Clinics where he spearheaded and expanded orthopedic services to the underserved of Marin County. He was given the “Community Champion Award” by MCC in 2012 for his commitment to the ideal “that all patients deserve quality care and attention no matter what their financial circumstances.”

Kevin Harrington was married to Margaret (Peggy) Harrington MD for 32 years and is survived by his and her five children (Lisa Harrington-Meyers of New Orleans; Annie Orci of Pacific Palisades, California; Sarah Harrington of Washington DC; Mary Kay Covarubias of Orange, California; and Peter Harrington of Pensacola, Florida) and by grandchildren (Harry and Abby Myers, Alex and Jesse Covarubias, and Kaden Harrington); by his sister Erin Van Speybroeck of Boston, by his nephews Alec and David Van Speybroeck and niece Elaine Van Speybroeck, and by his first wife, Margaret Plumley Stephenson.

A memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, January 27th at 2 p.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto in Mill Valley, California.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial remembrances to be directed to the Kevin Harrington Orthopedic Fund C/o Marin Community Clinics 1177 East Francisco Blvd.Suite B, San Rafael, California 94901.