By Andrea Fernandes
Associate Editor
The St. Bonaventure community lost one of its members Sunday. Dr. Robert Harlan, professor of computer science, died of an unexpected heart attack after being rushed to Olean General Hospital.
Harlan began working at Bonaventure in 1979. During his time here, he used his skills and knowledge to better the university, his colleagues said. When he first began working at Bonaventure, the computer science department did not exist. Harlan saw the need for the department and founded it in the late ‘80s.
Although Harlan dedicated a lot of time to the computer science department, he began his work here as a philosopher, said Anne Foerst, Ph. D., a computer science professor. This is one of the many things the two had in common.
Along with dedicating his time to ensuring that academics in his department were the best they could be, Harlan made time to be a great mentor and friend, according to Foerst.
Foerst shared that she has countless amounts of good memories with Dr. Harlan.
“My favorite memory of him is the first time we watched the World Cup together which must have been in 2002,” Foerst said. “In the U.S it’s so hard to find someone who is such a soccer fanatic.”
Foerst reminisced on how the two drank beer, watched every single World Cup game together and yelled their guts out for their favorite team. They also shared a love for cars and robots. Foerst joked about their car competition and how she purchased a BMW, and then Harlan went out and bought a BMW.
Foerst believes that Harlan had a peaceful last day with his family. He spent Saturday with his wife at the India Festival in Olean. The Bills also won their game that night, which was something for him to celebrate. After being rushed to the hospital, Harlan died in less than an hour, Foerst said.
Dr. David Levine, a computer science professor, and Foerst said that Harlan is the reason they are currently working here.
“He’s probably responsible for 80 percent of the good things I’ve done here,” Levine said.
Students and alumni have been emailing faculty about how devastated they are to hear the news, the professors said.
“All Bonaventure professors care about students. He cared more. As long as you were working, he was working with you,” Levine said.
fernanal13@bonaventure.edu
