Cartan B. Kraft, a former mechanical engineer turned chief financial officer, died Sept. 2 from complications of dementia at his home in the Broadmead retirement community in Cockeysville. He was 81.

The son of Ned O. Kraft, an Alcoa Inc. mechanical engineer, and Helen Breck Kraft, Cartan Breck Kraft was born in St. Louis and raised in Silver Spring.

He attended St. John's High School in Washington and graduated from the Bullis School in Potomac.

He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and a master's degree in business from the Harvard Business School.

His first job after leaving Cornell was working as a mechanical engineer for Exxon. He then joined Davidson Chemical Co., a division of W.R. Grace & Co., in the 1970s, and retired from the company in the 1990s.

Mr. Kraft subsequently served as chief financial officer for the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, and then the Calvert School, Friends School and Gilman School. He retired for a second time several years ago.

The former longtime Tuscany-Canterbury resident moved to Broadmead around 2011.

He was an accomplished woodworker who made furniture for family and friends, and also donated pieces to charity auctions. He once crafted a harpsichord, family members said.

He had served on the boards of Friends School and the Kenwood Park Apartments.

Mr. Kraft was also a devoted cyclist who enjoyed riding his bicycle several times a week.

He was a member of Stony Run Friends Meeting, 5116 N. Charles St., where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 12.

He is survived by a stepson, Paul Bentley of Baltimore; a stepdaughter, Marion Bentley of Towson; two brothers, Ned O. Kraft Jr. of Argyle, Texas, and Richard B. Kraft of Taneytown; two sisters, Martha K. Canfield of Solomons and Susan K. Crilly of Silver Spring; and many nieces and nephews. His marriage to the former Barbara Lamb ended in divorce.

— Frederick N. Rasmussen