John Franklin Harper ’54

John died Jan. 23, 2021.

He attended Kent School in Kent, Conn. At Princeton he majored in politics, joined Charter Club, was a member of the Bridge Club and WPRU, and participated in ROTC. He married Katherine Johnson during his senior year. They had four children, John F. Jr., Jay Meredith, Carolyn Elizabeth, and Katherine Clark, before their divorce in 1963.

After two years of service in the Army and three years of business ventures, he joined Princeton’s staff, working on the $53 million capital campaign and then in the Development Office until resigning in 1966. He launched his own fundraising firm for independent schools and colleges, retiring in 1992.

He met Margaret “Margee” Taube as a fundraising client in 1978. She eventually joined his firm, and they married in 1987. She brought four children to the marriage.

John served as class president from 1979 to 1984, president and treasurer of the Nassau Club, and was extensively involved in class affairs. He was a member of the “Buster Lewis” all-male joke club and an enthusiastic model-railroader, played the ukulele, and supported numerous Princeton community organizations.

John is survived by Margee, four children, seven grandchildren, and sister Priscilla.