Harold Vikoren

Harold B. Vikoren, August 1933 - November 2024

Harold Vikoren’s children, Dr. Persila V. Mertz, Susanne V. Clark, Esq. and Dr. Thomas H. H. Vikoren, wish to honor his memory with this writing regarding his life and legacy. 

Harold lived a life of great accomplishment and service. All who have known him describe him with the same fundamental observation: Harold was a true gentleman. 

Indeed, he was a gentle man – someone whose sensible and careful nature was informed by his Norwegian heritage and the era in which he was born and grew up in the United States, and whose warmth, caring for others and generosity were beautifully complimented and enriched by his late wife, Farah, and her Persian culture. 

As a boy and young adult, Harold lived in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, where he formed life-long friendships. He left Pennsylvania to complete college with numerous honors at Syracuse University, and then served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army. Handsome and good humored, Harold was affectionately nicknamed “Killer” by his fraternity, Sigma Nu, but throughout his life Harold believed deeply in the Quaker faith. He was a dedicated member of the Doylestown Friends Meeting, Buckingham Friends Meeting and Solebury Friends Meeting and supporter of the American Friends Service Committee (which is accepting donations in his honor).

Harold received his legal education at the Harvard Law School. After graduating, Harold returned to Pennsylvania to begin his legal practice, which included skillfully representing the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Reading Railroad. His knowledge of Pennsylvania’s history, its rail and roadways, architecture and natural beauty was extensive. Quite simply, Harold loved living in “Penn’s Woods,” most particularly the greater Philadelphia area and, within it, Bucks County. He sailed Pennsylvania’s lakes, skied her mountains, hiked her fields, loved her residents and took pride in Pennsylvania’s place in history.

As a young father, Harold created nature walks through wooded acres, teaching his children about plants and trees that grew there, the native insects, birds and other animals. He cultivated trees and gardens, and friendships throughout the area. He delighted, along with Farah, in expanding connections across generations and walks of life by bringing friends and family together in serendipitous ways.

Harold’s vibrant and diverse law practice gave him vast insight into helping others navigate life events, and with grace he calibrated to meet the circumstances of his clients. His sensitivity was forged through service as an Assistant Public Defender when he was a young lawyer. Over Harold’s years in private practice, he appeared and distinguished himself before the U.S. federal courts in various jurisdictions. 

Harold practiced law well into his senior years from an historic building near the courthouse. He was for decades the beloved primary resource for the Bucks County Register of Wills office for the myriad complex questions of interpretation of arcane family law over which it had jurisdiction. In 2017, Harold was recognized by the Pennsylvania Bar Association for outstanding leadership, extraordinary service and longstanding membership over a 50-year period.

Within the community, Harold found many ways to connect and contribute. He was an active Rotarian who also volunteered his legal time and leadership to the Midway Fire Company over several decades. Harold was the President of the Bucks County Symphony for multiple terms. He performed with the Town & Country players, and he and Farah were dedicated patrons of the Bucks County Opera Association and Philadelphia Orchestra. They generously supported numerous schools, museums, artists, authors and organizations, including A Woman’s Place shelter and the Syracuse University Veterans Legacy Fund. They helped form organizations that would benefit members of the community in need and that continue in existence to this day. 

Harold engaged with sincerity and humility. His generosity toward others was well felt, even as it was at times quite subtle and often without seeking any form of acknowledgement. He is remembered with tremendous appreciation and affection. He is beloved by all who knew him, including his five grandchildren and their families. 

Harold is peacefully at rest. His vitality and impact endure.  

A memorial gathering will be held at the Solebury Friends Meeting house at 2 pm on February 22, 2025.