Spotlight Story

In 1984, as The Harvey School worked to establish itself as a thriving middle and upper school — steadily graduating more students each year — the campus and community were only a shadow of what we know today. It was during this pivotal moment that Charles Krasne joined the Board of Trustees, while his son, Thatcher ’86, was a student.  With the arrival of Headmaster Barry Fenstermacher just two years later, Charles Krasne, Mr. Fenstermacher, and Board Chair Ray Kuntz began reshaping Harvey’s future. Together, they helped change the school’s trajectory — but without Mr. Krasne’s extraordinary generosity, it’s hard to imagine the Harvey we know today.

In those early years, Mr. Krasne’s gifts were essential to Harvey’s survival. As the school grew, his focus turned to strengthening its campus, leaving his mark on nearly every corner. His support made possible the 1995 major renovation of Evarts Ice Rink, the construction of McMahon Cottage and a major addition to the Hickrill Science Building which had housed the Harvey Middle School in years prior. The new building, named in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Krasne in 2001, became the hub of the middle school, featuring a main office for the middle school head and six new classrooms, including a brand-new science lab. His commitment also helped bring The Walker Center for the Arts and the Fenstermacher Athletic Center to life.

While Mr. Krasne cared deeply for the school’s overall success, it was technology — and the role it would play in preparing students for the future — that captured his imagination. Long before most schools embraced technology as a classroom tool, Harvey, thanks to Mr. Krasne, was outfitted with Apple computers, servers, and a variety of groundbreaking software such as Microsoft Office, Geometer’s SketchPad, Interactive Physics, and Point-of-View. His contributions helped bring internet access to every corner of campus, and he continually upgraded the school’s hardware, software, and audiovisual equipment as the tech landscape evolved — from TVs and VCRs to projectors and advanced editing programs such as Final Cut Pro, QuarkXPress, and Adobe Creative Suite.

This commitment grew into the creation of the Krasne Technology Fund, or Krasne Project,  in 2012, which has driven innovation across academic departments. His vision helped launch Harvey’s video production program, supplying equipment and editing tools that nurtured future filmmakers, broadcasters, and journalists.

When robotics arrived on campus in 2014, it reawakened Mr. Krasne’s lifelong love of tinkering. With his enthusiastic support, Harvey’s robotics program blossomed, equipping students with the tools and opportunities to compete — and win — at state, national, and international levels. His generosity extended to both Middle and Upper School robotics, funding cutting-edge equipment like 3D printers, a waterjet cutting machine, and a CNC machine. He also championed the drone robotics program, including the underwater drone project, which took Harvey students all the way to Denmark as part of their Harvey G.O.E.S. international experience.

It was Mr. Krasne’s forward-thinking generosity that also laid the groundwork for Harvey’s seamless transition to real-time distance learning during the  COVID-19 pandemic — a moment that underscored just how far his vision had carried the school.
It’s hard to imagine Harvey without Charles Krasne. His strategic gifts strengthened our finances, transformed our facilities, empowered faculty, and inspired generations of students to explore, create, and innovate. We are deeply grateful not only for his generosity, but for the lasting ties he and his family forged with Harvey — including his son Thatcher ’86, and grandchildren Lily ’19, Chloe ’21, and Hudson ’24.

As one of Harvey’s earliest and most transformative donors, Mr. Krasne’s legacy is forever woven into the fabric of the school. Thank you, Mr. Krasne — your vision has made all the difference.