Charles E. Harris ’64

Charlie died of colon cancer Sept. 30, 2010, in New York City.

He grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., and graduated from The Hill School. After Princeton, he earned an M.B.A. from Columbia and went to work in the securities industry. In the 1980s, Charlie launched the Harris & Harris Group, a successful venture-capital firm investing in nanotechnology. He retired as chairman and CEO in 2008.

Charlie and his wife, Susan, bred and owned thoroughbred racehorses. He also was an avid golfer and served as trustee or director of numerous organizations, including Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Charlie and Susan loved to travel and 1964’s African safari trip in 2008 was one of their favorites.

Diagnosed with incurable cancer in March 2009, Charlie set up a blog as a means of staying in touch with his many friends. He used his own personal tragedy as an opportunity to share his experience with others. The blog will be published as a book, Incur-
able: A Life After Diagnosis. All of us who may have someone’s terminal illness touch our lives may find this worthwhile reading.

Charlie is survived by Susan; his son, David; daughter Elizabeth; a granddaughter; his mother, Kathryn; a sister, Kathryn; and his brother, William ’62, to all of whom the class extends sincere condolence.