Adrienne arrived in Boulder as a single mother with two kids and a dog in tow during the summer of 1969.  She immediately began making a difference by using her academic background in Early Childhood Education to help Boulder County children in the Headstart program.

As an employee of the City of Boulder’s Housing Office, she represented the interests of low-income housing residents.  She also took the lead on the development of programs such  Boulder County Dental Aid, the Institute on Law & Aging, Mothers Time Out, and the City of Boulder’s Tenants’ Representative Council.  She was the Coordinator for the Friendship City Project and its focus on Jalapa, Nicaragua, and helped organize the first national Friendship City Conference.

She developed the Share-A-Ride program for senior citizens in Boulder, Longmont, and throughout the County as part of the Boulder County Transportation Task Force.  At Front Range Community College, Adrienne worked on staff as an Academic Advisor to hundreds of students.  Adrienne worked a second job as the Program Developer and Coordinator at the Community Parenting Center, where she also served as the Director and was involved with outreach efforts, advocacy, volunteer coordination, and public relations. 

In 1999 she established The Friendship Foundation --- a tax-exempt, non-profit organization which supported peace efforts in the Middle East.  She also was a founder of Health Care For All Colorado, an organization seeking to educate citizens about health care options with the goal of ensuring that every Coloradan has adequate health care coverage and services.  And Adrienne was a founder of and very active in the Middle East Study Group, a committee established to promote Middle East peace as part of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Adrienne was a member of “The Raging Grannies” and sang in the group’s performances.  She was a music lover and consummate pianist.  She was known as an artist for her paper-cutting designs and framed works as well as for her water colors and photography --- highlighted by public exhibits.

Her commitment to personal action was exemplified by her participation in a record number of parades, marches, protests, and demonstrations.  Examples ranged from helping the needy on a one-on-one basis to marching in solidarity with the Reverend Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights era.  Adrienne also was a model of charity.  She frequently offered her home to those in distress or helped a person “get over the hump” during a crisis with a financial gift.

Adrienne received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and did her graduate work in Early Childhood Education at the Erickson Institute in Chicago.  She is survived by her children, Becca Harber of Ithaca, NY, Leah Vandersluis of Lafayette, Colorado, and Aaron Harber, of Lafayette, Colorado, and two grandchildren: Joel Vandersluis and Holly Harber.  A celebration of life and memorial service was held on Sunday, January 10th, 2010, at the Boulder Elks Club.  Contributions may be sent to the Adrienne Harber Memorial Peace Fund c/o Leslie Lomas, 2290 Emerald Road, Boulder, CO 80304.