In Loving Memory of Robert Daniel "Rob" Harris Jr.

Robert Daniel “Rob” Harris Jr. died unexpectedly on September 14, 2026. He was 56.

Rob was born August 10, 1970, in Beeville, Texas, and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Even if you did not personally know Rob, he was a part of your life in a small way through his life’s work as a software engineer. In his 15 years at Netflix, Rob helped build the foundation of the company’s Apple TV and iPhone apps. He was one of the first engineers on that architecture, and code he wrote in 2015 is still running today on televisions and phones around the world.

He met his wife, Marisa Fagan, in 2005, at MJQ, an Atlanta dance club, on Britpop night. She spotted him across the room and asked him to dance. When he asked for her number, they each pulled out the same MPx220 Windows Mobile flip phone, a model neither of them had seen anyone else carry. From the very beginning, the two bonded over their shared love of technology, which would eventually lead the couple to relocate to Silicon Valley in 2009, where they made their forever home in San Francisco. They were married on September 5, 2015.

A friend of Rob’s was a friend for life. He found his people in a tight-knit crew who traveled to the desert to play breaks and dance under the moon. Rob never claimed a hobby; he had enthusiasms. From music to the latest tech, Rob pursued those enthusiasms with infectious passion and shared that passion with anyone who would listen. If you spent an hour with Rob, you were almost guaranteed to learn about a new album release, a tour announcement, a new console, or the latest VR headset.

At home he was, in Marisa’s words, the best husband and life partner there ever was. He was a doting and devoted son who took care of his mother after his father died. He planned for the future with the same meticulous care he brought to his code, quietly building a foundation that would hold his family safe.

He read constantly, especially modern fiction, and Ian McEwan was his all-time favorite author. His humor was dry and precise, and he found it in the absurd details most people would skip. He was a humble genius, excelling with grace at whatever he set his sights on.

Rob is survived by his wife, Marisa Fagan; his mother, Kazuko Harris; his mother-in-law, Deborah Rugg; his sister-in-law, Ilse Mehta; and his nephews, Owen and Edward. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Daniel Harris Sr., and his father-in-law, Robert Fagan.

A celebration of Rob’s life will be hosted by his family on December 12, 2026 in Atlanta, GA.