She's been called “The last Grande Dame,” a fashionista, a philanthropist, a patron of the arts in Central Florida and just plain Harriett.
To many, she is the ultimate giver whose generosity knows no bounds.
The eldest of seven, Harriett Lake was born not far from Hershey, Penn. So how in the world did she end up in Florida?
"I was looking for a husband,” Lake said. “I was smitten with some guy in Pennsylvania who decided that we weren’t going to be made for each other. So I said ‘where is it warm and where can I meet a nice guy?’ And I said I think I’ll pack a couple of bags and move to Miami Beach."
"Every Friday night I forced myself to go to the temple, thinking that if I’m gonna meet somebody responsible, I would meet him at a temple,” Lake said. “And there he was, standing on the steps of the temple. Actually I thought I was going to do better so I didn’t, didn’t take to him right away. First of all, he was totally penniless and I had never met a guy who didn’t have any money at all. About a year after I met him and I hadn’t seen him, I happened to be in a bank and he was about five rows over and I said ‘what the hell?’ I figured that the ship had already sailed, you know? That he had been married or something. Anyway I went over and said ‘what are you doing tonight?’ and he says ‘what do you want to do.’ We were married about a couple months after that."
The marriage lasted over 60 years before her beloved Hy passed away three years ago.
Now over 90 years old, Harriett has a deep compassion and commitment to helping others. Among those on the receiving end include the Orlando Ballet, Mad Cow Theater, Boys & Girls Clubs. She's even gone to Walmart over Christmas and paid for everyone's layaway. That's how she is.
“Listen, when you’re 80 years old and you’re picking out your coffin and you know you’re not going to take anything with you, you begin to see people out there," Harriett said. “I mean, other people go work in a Salvation Army, bread line, soup kitchens. I can’t do that because I don’t have that much energy, so I can write a check."
And write she does, giving away $1.5 a year to 189 different charities.
Harriett's latest project is Votes For Women. She wants folks to know the hardships women endured to have this right. So as she did once before, she will send out thousands of invitations and has a luncheon. The money raised goes to the League of Women voters. Flapper and suffragette outfits and a hat are a must! Last time, 850 women showed up!
"And I’m doing it again and I don’t care how much it costs. I’m doing it. In August. We’re doing it the day the women got the right to vote," Lake said.
Before serving her community, she served her country. Harriett was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Fashion even trickled into her decision to enlist!
"Oh yeah I fell in love with the trench coat,” Lake said. “That was the only way to get it."
Some might think that Harriett's love of clothes is sort of an addiction, and they wouldn't be far off.
"I just have this disease,” Lake said. “I have a passion and cannot live when I see a beautiful thing. I have to have it."
Bottom line is fashion and if there was a fire, she'd wear her favorite outfit from her favorite store and go out in a blaze of glory!
"If there was a fire and I got to pick out one outfit to leave before I burned, I’d pick out my $19 Costco basic black Audrey Hepburn dress,” Lake said with a laugh.