Harry William Yergey

Harry William Yergey passed away on February 24, 2026.  He was at home and surrounded by his family in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Harry was born on June 29, 1936 to Elsa and Harry Fisher Yergey in Philadelphia, PA.  He grew up in Philadelphia and Woodbury, NJ.  He earned a degree in Liberal Arts from Rutgers University.  Harry served in the Army after college and was drawn to study at the Army Language School in Monterrey, California. While at the Language School, he further developed his interest in languages and seeing other parts of the world.  His travels took him to Lübeck, Germany, where he met his lifelong love, Angelika. They were married on November 25, 1961.

Harry enjoyed a long career with General Motors Acceptance Corporation, starting as a Field Representative and progressing  to managerial and executive positions.   His career took him and his family to Denmark, Holland, Germany, Belgium, England and then back to the US, to Birmingham, Michigan.  After retiring from GMAC, Harry had a second career in management with Alamo Auto Rental in Fort Lauderdale, with frequent travel to South America. He and Angelika moved to Colorado Springs, CO in 2022.

Wherever in the world he lived and traveled, Harry immersed himself in the local culture, history and language.  After they returned to live in the US, Europe - and especially Germany- always remained a second home to Harry and Angelika. They regularly visited to see family, to come back to favorite cities and to explore new ones. Travel, especially internationally, and new experiences were a lifelong shared passion.

Harry loved music, especially classical pieces and he enjoyed attending concerts, the theatre and the opera. He was often heard playing his beloved piano, on which he played all kinds of music, all learned by ear.  A voracious reader, Harry could often be found with an espresso and a book to expand his knowledge about history and the world.  He was always up to date on world events, sports and politics, and always keen to engage with others to hear their opinions and their stories. For many years, he enjoyed summers with his family in Ocean City, NJ. He was an avid skier, enjoying the mountains and mountain towns in various places in Europe and North America.  In Fort Lauderdale, he enjoyed taking family and friends on his boat, swimming with his grandchildren and kayaking. 

Harry was a devoted and loving husband of 64 years to his wife, Angelika, and father to Harry Peter (Melissa) and Corinna (Timothy).  He was also a proud and supportive grandfather to his six beloved grandchildren -  Nicholas, Alexander, Sophia, Christina, Timothy Connor and Colin.

Harry also stayed in close contact with his extended family and the many friends he made along the way.  He cherished those relationships, the time spent together and the correspondences they shared.

Harry enjoyed a rich, full and varied life and had a lifelong ability to bring order and clarity to whatever he put his mind to. His steady presence was a gift to those who loved and knew him. He will be remembered not only for his accomplishments, but also for the way he lived his life: straightforward, with a sharp and witty sense of humor, and with care and integrity.

We are honoring Harry’s wishes and will not have a funeral service. A Celebration of Life will be arranged in the coming months.