Ernest Harry Law

E. Harry Law, 85, husband of Linda Law, passed away Saturday, February 28, 2026, after a long battle with heart failure.

Born on December 5, 1940 in Montclair, NJ, he was the son of the late Ernest Law and Gladys Law.

Harry spent most of his youth in Westmont, NJ, where his parents instilled in him kindness, responsibility, curiosity, integrity, respect for women, and a love of learning. He loved family vacations at the NJ shore and visits with his cousins in the Boston area.

As a young man, Harry enjoyed baseball, fishing, swimming, target shooting, reading, attending high school football games, Friday night dances, and hanging out with his friends, some of whom he remained in touch with all his life. Inspired by his naval officer uncle, and a cousin who went to the U.S. Naval Academy, he hoped to enroll there but, at the time, anyone who wore glasses wasn’t accepted. As an adult he loved sailing on Lake Keowee, Lake Champlain, and in the British Virgin Islands. Harry was also interested in anything aeronautical or automotive.

In 1958 he graduated from Collingswood High School in NJ, after which he earned a B.S. in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1962 where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi (for academic achievement), and Sigma Gamma Tau (honorary society for the aeronautical sciences). During two summers he worked at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, an experience that gave him a lifelong appreciation for the majesty of West. He earned his M.S. in flight mechanics from Princeton University in 1965, after which he began work as a research engineer at United Aircraft Research Labs in East Hartford, CT. In 1968, he enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the University of Connecticut. He completed that degree in engineering mechanics in 1971 and, because he wanted to teach, he began a 42-year career at Clemson University.

At Clemson, he was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and Sigma Xi (Clemson University chapter of the Scientific Research Society). Harry contributed to the mechanical engineering department in many ways, among which were coordinating a student exchange program with Hiroshima University, and co-founding the Motorsports Engineering Program.

On December 17, 1965, Harry and Linda met on a blind date in CT. They married on September 17, 1966. They spent the first part of their honeymoon at Linda’s family’s cottage on Cape Cod, fostering Harry’s lifelong love of the place. During another part of their honeymoon, Harry took Linda to the noisy Formula 1 races in Watkins Glen, NY. That’s when she realized how important cars were to Harry! She much preferred his interest in sailboats.

Outside his professional life, Harry’s interests were wide-ranging. He loved reading, especially naval and aeronautical history, kayaking, swimming, hiking, backpacking, scuba diving, bicycling, live theater, movies, and thoughtful conversations about current events, including the importance of maintaining American Democracy. He traveled extensively in the United States, Japan, China, Europe, and Canada, always eager to experience other cultures.

In 2024 he commissioned a professional genealogical study of his Irish and Swedish ancestry, resulting in a 550-page family history that will be treasured for generations.

Harry was serious, scholarly, ethical, compassionate, sincere, and humble. He was quiet, but if you were lucky, you would witness his goofy side. He was a loyal husband, devoted father, and proud grandfather.

In addition to Linda, his beloved wife of 59 years, Harry is survived by his son Eric, his daughter-in-law Xiaowen, grandson AJ, and cousins Virginia Stentz, Ruth Maria Winiarski, Nancy Honeyford, and Doug Law.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by Linda’s parents, her sister, cousins, aunts and uncles.

A Celebration of Harry’s Life will take place at University Lutheran Church, 111 Sloan St., Clemson, SC 29631, on Thursday March 5th at 2:00 PM with a light reception afterwards.

The family offers its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Jaymi Meyers and the amazing staff at Prisma Health Cottingham Hospice House where Harry was lovingly cared for during his final six months.

Memorial gifts may be made to Prisma Health Cottingham Hospice House, 390 Keowee School Rd., Seneca, SC 29672; University Lutheran Church; the Environmental Defense Fund at donate.edf.org, or any organization whose cause you know Harry supported.