A Celebration of the Life of Harry Teter Jr.

Harry Teter Jr. passed away peacefully on February 10, 2026, at age 85. His life was defined not only by professional accomplishment but also by devotion to family, service to others, and a steadfast belief that systems can, and should, work better for people.

Above all, Harry was a husband, father, and grandfather. He shared a loving marriage with his wife, Kathie, and took immense pride in his daughter, Elizabeth “Lizzie B.” In his later years, few roles brought him more joy than being a grandparent to Owen and Callum. His family was his anchor and his greatest source of happiness.

Professionally, Harry leaves a remarkable legacy in trauma care and injury prevention. For more than three decades, he served as Executive Director of the American Trauma Society, helping shape the organization into a national leader in trauma systems development and survivor support. He was widely regarded as the Society’s first executive director and built much of the operational and strategic foundation that continues to guide its work today.

A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Harry brought legal insight and policy expertise to a field still finding its footing. He championed the development of coordinated trauma systems and believed that survival after serious injury should not depend on geography. His leadership helped advance regionalized trauma care and promote the principle that the right patient must reach the right facility at the right time.

Harry also played a central role in creating the Trauma Survivors Network, recognizing that healing does not end at hospital discharge. He understood that recovery includes emotional support, community, and reintegration, and he worked to ensure that survivors and their families were not alone on that journey.

Throughout his career, he collaborated across sectors, including public health, transportation safety, and federal and state agencies, often working behind the scenes to improve policy, strengthen systems, and save lives quietly. His work on roadway safety initiatives and trauma data exchange reflected his belief that better information and coordination could prevent suffering.

Those who knew Harry will remember his steady leadership, thoughtful presence, and unwavering commitment to the mission. He believed in collaboration over ego, systems over silos, and people over politics. He wanted survivors, families, and colleagues alike to feel seen, heard, and valued, not as numbers in a system, but as individuals whose lives mattered.

His legacy lives on in stronger trauma systems, empowered survivors, and countless lives improved and saved because he dedicated his career to this work.

Harry’s life was well lived, one of purpose, service, and enduring impact.