Former Horsham Township District Justice Dies
—Former District Justice Harry Nesbitt passed away on Sunday after battling cancer, officials said.
Horsham Community Police Services announced the news on Tuesday morning, dedicating its Facebook post to the late judge.
Born on Dec. 3, 1962, in Ridgewood, N.J., Nesbitt graduated from Hatboro-Horsham High School.
He then joined the family pre-press business, Ruttle, Shaw, and Wetherill (Ruttle Graphics).
In 1998, Harry started Nesbitt Graphics with his uncle and friend, Bruce Nesbitt, which became a leading full-service provider of content solutions to educational publishers. He was notorious for his tireless work ethic, overseeing Nesbitt Graphics until the company was sold in 2011.
One of his greatest accomplishments was his 24 years of service as Magisterial District Judge in Horsham.
Judge Nesbitt was well respected, fair, and truly dedicated to his oath as judge. In Judge Nesbitt's courtroom, despite his firm approach to enforcing the law, he displayed a level of reasoned fairness to all those before him, Horsham ChATs said.
Judge Nesbitt was proud of his positive impact on the community, especially through his work with juvenile offenders. It is noteworthy that Judge Nesbitt went on to have three uncontested re-elections to the bench.
"Harry loved Horsham. He was beloved by many colleagues and established lifelong friendships with those serving our community," Horsham ChATs said. "He had a deep respect for law enforcement and was very active in the township."
Nesbitt retired from his position as Judge in December. He was succeeded by former State Rep. Todd Stephens.
Nesbitt was the son of the late Harry J. Nesbitt, Jr. and Marion (Ruttle) Nesbitt. Harry is survived by his mother Marion, his 4 loving children; Samantha, Harry John IV (Lauren), Kevin (Emily) and Jennifer (Timothy), 4 grandchildren; Jackson, Hailey, Charlotte, and Harry John V., his sister Elizabeth Haggerty (Paul), his brothers Gregory S. Nesbitt, Esq. (Kristin), and Christopher W. Nesbitt (Gina).
Family and friends are invited to his visitation from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Emil J. Ciavarelli Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 951 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.
A Visitation will be held at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 919 Tennis Avenue, Ambler, PA on Friday, October 4, 2024, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. with a Memorial Service to follow at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please give to the Michael L. DiTore Small Moments Foundation. Their mission is to create small moments of joy and healing through personalized experiences for children who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer. Checks can be made to Small Moments Foundation, PO Box 26547 Collegeville, PA 19426 or via Venmo: behalf of all of us here in Community Police Services, thank you for your service to Horsham, rest in peace, and we'll take it from here," Horsham ChATs said.
