Harry M.K. Johnston ’58

Harry Johnston died of cancer Oct. 3, 2009, at his home in Blue Bell, Pa.

He was born in Hazelton, Pa., and came to Princeton from The Hill School. At Princeton Harry majored in English, took his meals at Tiger Inn, and was on the swimming team for four years. He roomed with Warren Davis, Lew Reed, Jack Williams, and Bob Cruikshank.

Harry spent his entire career in banking. He was an executive vice president of the Commonwealth National Bank in Harrisburg, Pa. In 1984 he started, with a group of local business owners, the Chestnut Hill (Pa.) National Bank. Nine years later the bank was acquired by National Penn Bank.

Harry served as president of the Greater Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce and the Harrisburg Community Theatre.  

In 1998 Harry’s first wife, Inez, died of cancer shortly after their 40th wedding anniversary. In our 50th-reunion yearbook he noted, “I was blessed with a wonderful first wife. In 2002, I was fortunate to get remarried to another wonderful woman.”

Harry is survived by his wife, Sally; his four children; two stepchildren; 12 grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren. To them all, the class extends its deepest sympathy.