Harvey Pierce, 88, a philanthropist from Arlington Heights, died Thursday, Aug. 24, of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. For 50 years, Mr. Pierce was a one-man charity who visited children in hospitals and convalescent homes, often unannounced. His work was profiled in a Chicago Tribune story in October 1999 in which he said, “I’ve been doing it so long, it just comes naturally.” His daughter-in-law, Shirley, said Mr. Pierce touched hundreds of people. As word of Mr. Pierce’s death spread, she said, “People are phoning this house, people I don’t even know, saying, `What am I going to do?'” Several days before his death, she said that Mr. Pierce told her, “This has been a great life, a great game, and I’ve loved every minute of it, especially the children.” Mr. Pierce is also survived by his son, Myles;three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Anshe Emet section of Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 Gross Point Rd., Skokie.
