March 2, 2015

Harriet Whiting

Harriet Whiting's roots trace back to Lithuania, from where her grandparents and great-grandparents scattered across the world. Her mother's parents settled in South Africa in the late 1800s, while her father's parents first went to England, where the family name was changed, before arriving in Cape Town. Her mother's family lived in a small farming town in the Orange Free State, where her grandfather bought farms, and her father's family settled in the Cape. Harriet grew up with cousins spread across South Africa, Canada, and beyond, part of a large and far-flung Jewish family.

In 1977, following a period of political unrest and concern that their three sons might be conscripted into the army during civil conflict, Harriet and her husband David decided to leave South Africa. David, a physician, attended a dermatology meeting in the United States and was offered a job, and the family received a green card within three weeks of returning. Weighing options including England and Australia, they chose Dallas as the biggest city where they wished to be. They stayed with friends before buying their first home near Hockaday, later moving in about 1983. Adjusting to abundant grocery choices and new roads took time, but the community welcomed them warmly.

In Dallas, Harriet continued her career in radiography and x-rays, helping to open radiology practices and imaging centers at institutions including a medical school and Children's Medical Center before moving into consulting on hospital-based information systems and later joining a family training business called Image Dynamics. She became active in the Jewish community, joining a synagogue and working to build connections she had once taken for granted in South Africa. Five of her children live in Dallas and elsewhere, including Australia, Florida, and the Channel Islands, and she has eight grandchildren. She and David became citizens five years after arriving, determined to vote. Israel has grown ever more important to her over the years, and she remains profoundly thankful for the opportunities her adopted country has offered.

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