From May 13, 2021: Jimmy Kraft

My friend Jimmy Kraft died last week. When I wrote about “the fragility of life” a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea that I’d need to revisit the topic so soon. Yesterday I attended Jimmy’s funeral.
People who serve on Boards of Directors of small independent schools are a special breed, willing to dig in and weather the uncertainties, the ups and downs, and the challenges of supporting small fragile enterprises with no guarantees of success. Intensely human enterprises, schools like Nora and Wye River must hold in balance pastoral needs with business requirements. This takes a special person.

Jimmy was one of the handful of people responsible for creating The Nora School as it exists today. About to step down as Board Chair, he was a good and loyal friend, a trusted confidant, and despite his sometimes strong and contrary opinions, incredibly tender-hearted toward the people and institutions he cared about. When Jimmy set his mind on something, he didn’t give up until he got what he needed. I remember him sitting outside my office in the basement of the Washington Ethical Society in 1998 after I said that we had no space for another student. He insisted that we hear Brian’s story, and of course we admitted Brian, who became a terrific member of the school community.

Jimmy joined the Board after Brian graduated, and helped me build both the first and second iterations of The Nora School. From vetting general contractors and architects to overseeing quality control in the construction to investigating financing options, Jimmy always knew a guy who knew a guy, much to the school’s advantage.

In recent years he turned his prodigious energy toward helping his disabled grandson Eli. As he had done with his two adopted sons, he left no stone unturned in his search for those who could offer the best help. Whether it was his family, The Nora School, Woodmont, Jaffe, or his many other endeavors, everyone who came into contact with Jimmy appreciated and was in awe of his caring, thoughtfulness, and most of all, his determination.

Two weeks ago Jimmy was diagnosed with lung cancer. I had no idea he was sick, and due to my conscious decision to stay away from The Nora School we hadn’t spoken much over the past year.
So when you run into a member of the Wye River Board, at graduation or in the supermarket, thank them for the support they have given to Wye River Upper School. Their generosity of talent, time, and treasure have helped to make Wye River the terrific school it is today, housed in a wonderful building with an amazing staff. These things don’t happen by accident, they take hard work and foresight by committed volunteers who hold a vision for a better tomorrow. Their selfless good works are a blessing on our community and on the world.

Interim Head of School, Dave Mullen