|
|
January 25, 2006: Memorials
FRANCIS FISHER HART ’32
Fran Hart died Oct. 13, 2005. He was 96.
He prepared at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H. At Princeton he was in Ivy Club. Freshman and sophomore years he roomed with Cap Wister, and junior and senior years with Lew Van Dusen, Buzz Roberts, and Cap Wister.
After Princeton, Fran graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He then spent two years interning in Philadelphia and a year’s residence in Boston. His general practice was interrupted by Pearl Harbor.
In our 25-year book, Fran wrote: “The Army ordered me to become an X-ray specialist, which I did as best I could for a couple of years in the South Pacific. After my return to civilian life I took about three more years training in the field, which led to my present job of chief of radiology at Montgomery Hospital in Norristown, Pa.”
Fran is survived by Maria, his wife of 51 years, and son Joshua, to whom the class extends its sincere condolences.
The Class of 1932
SLOAT FASSETT HODGSON ’33
Sloat died Oct. 13, 2005. He was 94.
Born in Atlanta, Sloat was an extraordinarily talented classmate. He was an expert in a number of activities. At various times he was a shop teacher, boat builder, rigger, machinist, instrument calibrator, mechanic, caretaker, electrician, and worker of wood and paint. He loved motors and motor vehicles. But above all, Sloat would want to be known as a waterman. He knew Massachusetts’ West Falmouth Harbor and Buzzards Bay like the palm of his hand. He arranged for and recorded the Hog Island boat races for many years. One of his last projects was to build a small boat for his grandson, which he named Row, Row, Row!
Sloat married Nancy Curtis Weadock. After their divorce he married Ariel Camp Horton, who predeceased him. He is survived by two children, two stepchildren, four granddaughters, and one grandson.
The Class of 1933
Ferdinand W. Roebling III ’33
Ferd Roebling died Nov. 15, 2005, at his home in Mantoloking, N.J. He was 95. His wife, Kate, said he died peacefully and comfortably under hospice care.
Ferd attended Pomfret School and graduated from Princeton with a degree in engineering. He was the direct descendant of John A. Roebling, the builder and designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, who died during its construction. Ferd was senior vice president of the John A. Roebling Sons Co. until its sale to Colorado Fuel and Iron in 1953. Ferd continued there as vice president of engineering until 1965.
During World War II, Ferd served with the Army Corps of Engineers and separated as a lieutenant colonel in 1945.
Ferd’s first wife, Mary Van Campen, died and he married Kate Maddock, who survives him. He is also survived by his children from his first marriage, Mary Foster and William; two stepdaughters, Lynn Harrington and Kay Everitt; five grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren. We will all miss this gregarious, outgoing classmate.
The Class of 1933
JOHN ROMNEY SEARLES JR. ’34
John Searles, who as head of the Washington, D.C., Redevelopment Land Agency spent, in his words, “10 exciting years (1951 to 1961) as we transformed 500 acres in southwest Washington from slum to a vibrant residential and commercial area,” died Oct. 21, 2005, one week after his 93rd birthday, in Ponte Vedra, Fla., where he had lived since 1979. He had prostate cancer.
John’s career as an urban planner, most notably as executive director of what The Washington Post termed the “powerful” Redevelopment Land Agency, followed five years in the Army, where he rose from private to captain and won a Bronze Star for, as he put it, “ducking a bomb in the Philippines.” In 1956 he won a Rockefeller Public Service Award, which permitted him to visit European cities to study their post-war reconstruction. From 1962 to 1977 he was executive vice president of the Metropolitan Development Association in Syracuse, helping to upgrade the economy and quality of life in central New York.
John was married in 1943 to Leota “Lee” Dell Johnson, who survives him, as do a daughter, Elizabeth S. Friedberg; sons John R. III and James C.; and four grandchildren.
The Class of 1934
ARTHUR R. LEWIS ’36
Arthur died March 8, 2005, in White Plains, N.Y.
A graduate of Poly Prep in Brooklyn, he majored in economics at Princeton, played polo and was president of Gateway Club. His first job after college was with the New York Department of Labor. During World War II he served a year as a cryptographer on Christmas Island in the Pacific. After the war he started his own business, producing women’s attire for several years during which he acquired some knitting-machine patents. In the early 1970s he had a factory in Antigua in the West Indies making the same items.
After retiring from his businesses, while living in White Plains, he was a consultant to the Small Business Administration, helping people start their own companies. For many years, Arthur was a member of the Beach Point Tennis and Yacht Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., where he was an avid competitive sailor.
He married Muriel Zinn in 1939. She died in 1997. His son, A.R. Lewis Jr., died in 1999. Arthur is survived by a daughter, Joan Anders; her husband, Howard; their two sons; and a great-granddaughter.
The Class of 1936
DUTRO C. CALE II ’37
Dute died May 16, 2003, at the Ashlar Village in Wallingford, Conn., a retirement community where he lived for many years with his wife, Maryett. He was 89.
Born in St. Louis, he came to Princeton from the Lawrenceville School. As an undergraduate, he majored in modern languages and was a member of Dial Lodge. His business career initially was with U.S. Rubber Co. (later Uniroyal), then with B.F. Goodrich Co. in Chicago. In 1962 Dute entered government service in Washington, D.C., where he was mainly involved in procurement and policy-related functions. He remained in Washington until his retirement.
Although they had no children, Dute and Maryett had a large extended family of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, many of whom gathered for sharing memorial tributes. As one family member wrote: “My uncle was one of the kindest men I have ever had the pleasure to know. All who knew him felt that the word that best described him was ‘gentleman’ — in all the finest senses of the word.”
The class extends its sympathy to all the members of Dute’s widespread family. Their loss is ours as well.
The Class of 1937
ALFRED H. EDWARDS ’37
Al died Aug. 4, 2005, at his home in Dundee Township, near Elgin, Ill. He had just turned 90.
Born in Elgin, he entered Princeton from Choate, majored in philosophy, rowed on the 150-pound crew, and was a member of Cap and Gown. Al began his business career with his family’s iron-foundry firm, Woodruff and Edwards in Elgin, interrupting his work there to serve as an engineer with the tank division of the Chicago Ordnance District during World War II.
After the war Al returned to Woodruff and Edwards, became vice president, and continued with the company until his retirement in 1970. While there he also served on the executive committee and as a director of Cook Electric Co. in Chicago.
In retirement he kept busy with various real-estate projects. He was a longtime member of the First Congregational Church of West Dundee, where a service celebrating his life was held in August.
Al is survived by his wife of 66 years, the former Ruthie Farmmiloe; three children; four grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. To Ruthie and her extensive family, the class extends its warmest sympathy. We have lost a loyal Princetonian, classmate, and friend who will be much missed.
The Class of 1937
DEMING STEDMAN CROSS ’38
Dee died of heart failure Sept. 11, 2005, at Essex Meadows Retirement Community in Essex, Conn.
He came to Princeton from Kent School, was a member of Colonial Club, and majored in economics. He was on the 150-pound crew and the wrestling squad. During freshman year Dee roomed with George Magruder, junior year with Robert Moment, and senior year with W.W. “Jing” Johnson.
During World War II, Dee served in the Navy where, as a lieutenant, he was the commanding officer of a fire and rescue ship during the Normandy invasion. After the war Dee worked for Brown and Sharp in the machine-tool industry in Providence, R.I. In 1960 he and his wife, Dorothy, moved to Princeton, Mass., and Dee worked for Union Twist Drill in Holden. Dee was active in the Princeton, Mass., board of health, the tax board, and the historical society. He retired in 1985 and moved to southern Rhode Island.
Dee is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 60 years; a daughter, Dana C. Coes; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and his brother, Henry B. Cross Jr. ’36. He was pre-
deceased by his daughter, Lacy Cross Craven; his son, Deming Jr., and his cousin, Robert Moment ’38. To all Dee’s family, the class wishes to convey deep sympathy.
The Class of 1938
Robert Sutherland Cook Jr. ’39
Sud died of congestive heart failure Aug. 14, 2005, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, his lifetime home. He was surrounded by his wife, four daughters, and son, and at his request each in turn reminisced about the good times they all had shared.
In his business career he served as director or president of family-owned businesses, including the Roosevelt Hotel, Merchants National Bank, and the J.S. Cook Co. He served as president of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the Iowa Hotel Association, and served on the Cedar Rapids Downtown Association and the board of education of the Cedar Rapids school district.
But above all, Sud was widely known and loved by the countless people he helped in their struggle with alcoholism. He was extraordinarily frank about his own battle with alcoholism, celebrating 50 years of sobriety last January. A member of the Area Substance Abuse Council, he helped found the Sedlacek Treatment Center and spoke about alcoholism in schools and public venues. A friend remembers that he would go out to meet people who were suffering from alcoholism morning, noon, and night.
He is survived by his wife, Josephine; their five children; 13 grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters, to all of whom we express our deep sympathy.
The Class of 1939
MORRIS MATHER JR. ’39
Morrie died June 17, 2005, in Hinsdale, Ill., where he lived throughout his career.
Before his retirement in 1972, he was in investment banking with Blyth & Co. Inc. in charge of Midwest operations, and was a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He was a member of the Bond Club of Chicago and Municipal Bond Club of Chicago.
Aside from banking, Morrie enjoyed his church work and work with youth. He served on the Midwest Committee Young Life Campaign. In 1937 he was a U.S. National High Hurdles champion and qualified for the 1938 Olympics. In later years he enjoyed golf, fishing, his swimming pool, and the Chicago Bears and Cubs.
Reflecting on his life in our 50th yearbook, Morrie wrote that the best things in life were his walk with Christ, his marriage, and his children and grandchildren. He and his wife, the former Mary Stewart Creed, had been married for 66 years. She survives him as do their daughter, Mary Stewart Mather; sons Morris III and David; nine grandchildren; and nine great- grandchildren. To the family he loved so much, we offer our sincere sympathy.
The Class of 1939
WILLIAM HENRY WILSON JR. ’39
Bill died of cancer Aug. 16, 2005, in Baltimore, Md., where he had long been active in church work and community affairs, including the Boy Scouts and United Way.
During World War II he was a technical representative of Wright Aeronautical Co., assigned to the British Royal Air Force in India and Afghanistan. After the war Bill began his business career with Alcoa in Cleveland. Transferred to the company’s Baltimore office in 1948, he later was promoted to vice president and general manager. In 1962, he left the company and became vice president of Van Horn Metz & Co. Inc.; he also was sales manager for its Virginia and Maryland region. He was a vestryman, senior warden, and member of the finance committee of Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Bill once wrote that it had been his good fortune to be transferred to Baltimore. Little did he suspect that what Harvard means to Boston, Princeton means to Baltimore. Princeton’s sons permeated the whole fabric of life in Baltimore, carrying the burden of professional and community leadership. He was happy to be a part of it.
Bill is survived by Harriet, his wife of 58 years, and their son, Alexander. We offer them our sincere sympathy.
The Class of 1939
SAMUEL J.R. FROELICK ’40
Sam died Oct. 17, 2004.
He was born in Brooklyn and attended Germantown and Phillips Exeter academies. At Princeton, he majored in English and was a member of Cannon Club. He left Princeton at the end of his junior year to join the firm of DeCopper and Doremus.
During World War II he served as a Naval aviator on the carrier USS Cabot in the Pacific. He was awarded several decorations, remaining in the Naval Reserve for many years as a lieutenant commander. After a period as manager of editing for Columbia Broadcasting System on the West Coast, Sam finished college at the University of California in 1961. He taught at the John Burroughs School until his early retirement.
In our 25th-year book, he wrote, “I was in business for many years and felt I had to do something worthwhile, so I became a teacher.” After retirement, Sam and his wife, the former Rose Joseph, “moved up into the Sierras, built a home, and lived the simple life.” Gardening and watercolor painting were his hobbies; swimming and tennis his active sports interests.
Sam is survived by Rose, his son, Robert, and three granchildren. His classmates offer sincere, if belated, condolences to his family.
The Class of 1940
LESLIE KAMENS ’40
Les’ wife, Margot, spoke of his pride in attending the 50th, 55th, and 60th class reunions. But Les had to cancel his reservations for the 65th because his many years of health problems caught up with him. He died of a debilitating stroke Sept. 20, 2005, in Montebello, Calif.
After attending West Side High School in Newark, N.J., Les entered Princeton and majored in chemistry, graduating with high honors. He was a member of Gateway Club. He completed his medical studies at New York University School of Medicine and his internship at Beth Israel Hospital in 1945, while serving in the Army Medical Corps.
He was later stationed in Los Angeles, where he met and married Margot Williams in 1945. After five years of residency in New York City, Les returned with Margot to California in 1950, beginning a urology practice on the staffs of Presbyterian and Beverly hospitals. He served as chief of staff at Beverly from 1979 to 1980, and retired from practice in 1991. In spite of health problems, Les was able to continue fishing, tennis, reading, and attending classical music concerts.
He is survived by Margot; their daughter, Janet M. Schwartz; son Edward; and three grandchildren. To them, his classmates extend deep condolences.
The Class of 1940
EDWARD TINSLEY CHASE ’41
Ned died June 9, 2005, at his home in New York after a long illness.
He came to Princeton via Hackley School and Lawrenceville. Majoring in English, he graduated with high honors and also with high honors in the Divisional Program in the Humanities. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he also was a Lyman Biddle Senior Scholar.
Ned was on the freshman football team, won the class tennis championship sophomore and senior years, was editor of the Nassau Sovereign, chairman of the Undergraduate Dance Committee, and a member of Elm Club. After graduation, Ned taught at Stanford University before entering the Navy in 1942. He was discharged at the end of the war as a lieutenant.
Following his Navy service, Ned began a distinguished career as an editor and writer, first at Hyperion Press, then at The New Yorker, and then as editor-in-chief of New American Library. Next he became vice president of G.P. Putnam’s and Berkley Books before moving to The New York Times as vice president and editor-in-chief of Times Books, and lastly as senior editor at Scribner/Macmillan.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ethelyn Atha Chase; his sons, Edward T. and Cornelius “Chevy” Chase; two daughters, Cynthia Chase Culler ’75 (the first woman valedictorian at Princeton) and Daphne Rowe; and nine grandchildren.
The Class of 1941
EDWARD ADAMS ROBIE ’41
Bud died July 11, 2005, at home in Orono, Maine.
A graduate of Andover, be took a postgraduate year at Westminster School in London, before joining us for sophomore year. At Princeton, Bud majored in the School of Public and International Affairs, was awarded high honors, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and was awarded the Eyler Newton Prize. He was on the varsity soccer and track teams and the editorial board of the Tiger, and was a member of the yacht club and an officer of Quadrangle Club. His roommates were Archie Andrews, Pete Hughes, and Pete Raleigh.
During the war, Bud was a Navy pilot in the South Pacific, winning the Air Medal with three stars and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He began his business career at Sperry Gyroscope, then was an aide to Sen. Alexander Smith before moving to Lee Paper. In 1952 he joined Equitable Life Assurance Co., from which he retired in 1979 as senior vice president of human resources.
Bud then became professor of human resources management at the New School’s Graduate School of Management in New York. He served as chairman of the board of CARE from 1986 to 1989.
Bud is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jacqueline “Jackie” Ingram Robie; daughters Betty Carrol and Jacqueline Parks; sons Theodore Ingram and Edward Jr.; and 10 grandchildren.
The Class of 1941
BERNARD PATRICK GRIFFIN ’42
Bo, a relative of Donald Griffin ’23, died Sept. 29, 2005, at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, Va., following a stroke and subdural hematoma. He was 85.
Bo came to us from Wyoming Seminary with an outstanding record as president of the senior class and captain of the swimming and tennis teams. At Princeton he earned honors in modern languages and was a member of the varsity swimming team and manager of Quadrangle Club.
During World War II, Bo served as a first lieutenant in the Army’s European campaign and participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
Bo started his career in the flooring business with Congoleum-Nairn in New Jersey, where he met and married Margaret Lenahan, his beloved wife of 54 years. Subsequently he joined Woodward & Lothrop, an upscale department store in Washington, D.C., where he engaged in floor-covering sales and rose to project manager.
Upon his retirement, he and Margaret moved to Fredericksburg, Va. Bo was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a third-degree member of Fairfax Council Knights of Columbus.
Bo is survived by Margaret; his daughter, Erin Nougaret; and his grandsons, Ryan and Jordan. To them and many favorite nieces and nephews, the class extends condolences.
The Class of 1942
JOHN W. DRAYTON ’43
We lost John to Parkinson’s disease Sept. 24, 2005. He was 85.
He grew up in Chestnut Hill, Pa., prepping for Princeton at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire. A member of Colonial Club at Princeton, John earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1943. He went to work for Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., developing forms of synthetic rubber for the World War II effort. He later earned a master’s in business administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
In addition to his wife of 52 years, the former Cynthia Whitney, John is survived by his sons John Jr. and Whitney, a sister, and five grandchildren. His brother, Richard, died Oct. 4, 2005. To all the survivors, we extend our most sincere condolences.
The Class of 1943
HARRY CROFT BICKEL ’44
Harry, a 50-year resident of Chattanooga, Tenn., where he was a renowned realtor and builder, died in his home Sept. 13, 2005.
He was a descendant of two prominent, philanthropic families of Pittsburgh, his birthplace, and was returned for burial there. He attended Shady Side Academy.
At Princeton, when a bad back kept him from playing hockey, Harry became the manager of the varsity hockey team. He also was a member of the golf team and Cottage Club. After brief military service, Harry returned to complete his bachelor’s degree. He met his wife, Caroline Weeder, while vacationing in Hyannis Port, Mass. Married in 1951, they made their home in Chattanooga.
Harry was meticulous in everything he tried. In 1991, he and his son. Harry Jr., formed their own firm. Recently he was named Realtor Emeritus by the National Association of Realtors. Harry held memberships in the Chattanooga Golf Club and First Presbyterian Church there, and the Hyannis Port Club.
He is survived by his wife; his son; three daughters, Caroline McLoughlin, Florence Doud, and Laura Peoples; and eight grandchildren. Harry’s brothers-in-law are Dana Weeder ’55 and Richard Weeder ’58. Our condolences go to all.
The Class of 1944
ROBERT McELRATH STREBEIGH ’45
Bob Strebeigh died Nov. 13, 2004, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Known by his friends as “Robin,” he entered Princeton from Kent School and joined Elm Club. His Princeton studies were interrupted for service with the Marine Corps in the Pacific theater. Returning to Princeton, Bob received his degree in political science in 1947.
Given his family history as co-founders of the New York Herald, it was not surprising that he quickly began a newspaper career with the San Francisco Chronicle. Except for a six-year stint as CEO of a plastics manufacturing company, Bob enjoyed a distinguished career with the Chronicle.
In 1952 he married Mary Lee Tilden and they had four children, but they divorced in 1963. Bob then moved aboard the classic yacht La Jota, owned by his twin brother, Woody, and they entertained friends and family on San Francisco Bay for two decades.
Bob and Woody next settled in St. Petersburg, Fla., where Bob entered the real-estate business, followed by a seven-year retirement career with a Florida candy factory.
He is survived by Woody; his children, Katherine, T. Lee, Thomas, and Peter; and one grandson. The class extends sympathy to the family on the loss of this caring father, devoted brother, and loyal friend.
The Class of 1945
EVERARD F. SMITH ’46
Everard Smith died Sept. 3, 2005, after a yearlong illness, in Littleton, Colo.
He came to Princeton from South Side High School in Rockville Centre, N.Y. An electrical engineer, he spent 1943 to 1946 in the Army with service in the South Pacific. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1947, and enjoyed track, football, and basketball at Princeton.
Everard started his career with Western Electric in Newark, N.J. He worked for Sperry Gyroscope from 1949 to 1959, then moved to Littleton to work for Martin Marietta in aerospace engineering, visiting a number of NASA sites. In the early 1970s, he became a CPA and ran his own business in Littleton until his retirement in 1999.
Married to Edith Lange in 1950, he enjoyed family life with her; his son, Jeffery; daughters Marcia, Barbara, and Diane; and 10 grandsons. He also enjoyed tennis and raising and training pointer dogs. To Edith and all the family, the class extends its deep sympathy.
The Class of 1946
SAMUEL CLARK JR. ’48
Sam died Oct. 2, 2005, in Berlin, Conn., after a brief illness.
He joined us by way of Lawrenceville School in 1944 and graduated in 1950 with a bachelor’s in biology. He was a member of Cloister. Sam was in the Navy from 1945 to 1946 and again from 1951 to 1952.
An orthopedic surgeon with degrees from New York Medical College and Bellevue Hospital, he worked in general practice in Closter, N.J., and then in orthopedic practice in Middletown, Conn. He retired in 1990.
Sam loved tennis, skiing, golf, and fly-fishing. He and his wife, Fran, were avid travelers, having gone on safari in Africa, snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, and skiing in the Alps. He was quite a poker player.
In our 50-year book he mused: “The Princeton experience was ‘one of the building blocks’ in my life and now I am smelling the roses.”
Sam is survived by Fran, his wife of 53 years; children Cathy, Samuel III, and Marjorie; and seven grandchildren. His devotion to Princeton was a constant in his life. We offer condolences to his family.
The Class of 1948
BENJAMIN M. JOHNS Jr. ’49
Ben died unexpectedly Aug. 29, 2005. He was 78.
He was a graduate of DuPont High School in Wilmington, Del., and attended Andover. Ben spent most of a semester with us prior to enlisting in the Air Force for service at the end of World War II.
After leaving the service he moved to upstate New York, where he was in the custom kitchen-design industry for more than 50 years. He was an avid golfer.
Ben is survived by his wife, Katherine; two daughters, Patricia Edsell and Susan Ziff; a son, Michael; and five grandchildren. The class extends its deepest sympathy to them in their loss.
The Class of 1949
ALFRED S.C. LING ’49
Al, our class president, died rather suddenly of a bleeding disorder Sept. 13, 2005. He was 76.
He prepared for Princeton at Stuyvesant High School in New York City, where he was class president. At Princeton he majored in biology, was on the track team, and was a member of Terrace Club.
Al continued his education with a master’s in psychology from the University of Illinois and a medical degree and doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Maryland. He was a resident in internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and then associate professor of biochemical pharmacology and senior physician at Rockefeller University and its hospital in New York. He later entered the pharmaceutical industry, retiring from Wyeth Research as vice president for clinical research.
Al specialized in endocrine disorders and was responsible for the approval of a number of major new drugs. He served on the Council of the International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology and the Regents of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology.
Al is survived by his wife, Helen; sons Geoffrey and Douglas ’83; a daughter, Karen; and five grandchildren. He was respected and loved by his family and his class and will be sorely missed.
The Class of 1949
DONALD PELHAM ’49
Don died Sept. 27, 2005, as the result of injuries from a fall. He was 78.
He prepared for Princeton at St. Paul’s School and majored in chemical engineering. He served in the Army from 1945 to 1947 in the European theater. Don was a member of the 150-pound crew, the cross-country squad, and Quadrangle Club.
After graduation Don went to work for Union Carbide Corp. until 1959. He then started his own company, Acromold Products, a plastic-molding firm that he headed until his retirement in 1996. He was active in the New England Society of Plastics Engineers and the Plastics Pioneers of America. His favorite recreational activity was flying and he was a longtime member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He was also a longtime member and director of the First Congregational Church of Vernon, Conn.
Don is survived by his wife, Mary Jean; two sons, Douglas and Jeffrey; a daughter, Barbara Monteiro; and seven grandchildren. The class extends its sincere sympathy to them on their great loss.
The Class of 1949
HAROLD G. PETERSON ’49
Pete died Aug. 6, 2005, of a blood disorder. He was 84.
He prepared for Princeton at Newell High School in South Dakota and came to Princeton after four years of Army service in the European theater. He was wounded and captured by the Germans and was a prisoner of war from November 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. His decorations included two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. At Princeton he majored in economics. He received a master’s from the University of Minnesota in 1956.
After graduation Pete went to work in the bond department of the Northwestern National Bank in Minneapolis, and stayed there until his retirement as a vice president in 1975. He then relocated to Florida, where he developed residential properties in the Cape Canaveral area. He had been ill for a number of years before his death.
Pete’s first wife, Mae, died in 1956. He is survived by his second wife, Julia, and his daughter from his first marriage, Linda Sue Peterson. The class mourns with them on their loss of another of our true heroes.
The Class of 1949
JOSEPH W. GORDON ’50
Joe, our vice president from 2000 to 2005 and 55th reunion co-chairman, died Sept. 10, 2005, after a long struggle with diabetes in a hospital near his Cos Cob, Conn., home.
Born in New Jersey, Joe came to Princeton from Exeter. A biology major, he was a member of Cannon Club, a varsity swimmer, and a four-year Glee Club member.
After serving as a lieutenant in the Army during the Korean conflict, Joe joined Union Carbide. During his 32 years at Carbide, Joe worked in purchasing, marketing, and product management. He was active in the company’s retired men’s association.
Joe enjoyed physical activities and after retirement kept in shape by a regimen of running, swimming, and skiing. Joe always held Princeton in high esteem. We are grateful for his dedicated service to our class, and echo the theme of his memorial service, “In thanksgiving for the life of Joseph Wallace Gordon, June 14, 1928 — Sept. 10, 2005.”
Our condolences go to Joe’s wife, Betty; his sons, Joseph Jr. and William; daughter Susan; brother Jeremy; and six grandchildren.
The Class of 1950
MICHAEL H. HIRSCHBERG ’50
Mike died Sept. 4, 2005, in Sarasota, Fla.
A cum laude graduate of St. Paul’s School, he majored in politics at Princeton and belonged to Charter Club. Mike, a retired Army colonel, served in the Korean conflict and received the Purple Heart for a mortar wound that resulted in 90-percent disability.
His professional career was primarily in the book metier. He worked for D. Van Nostrand Co., Lippincott, and Harper & Row, retiring in 1990 for a pleasant life with his wife, Edith, in the Hudson Valley, where he was born. In 1997, the couple moved to Sarasota, where they enjoyed the variety of pastimes their community offered.
Don played golf as a freshman and continued to do so until physically unable. Nevertheless, he remained a fanatical devotee of the sport.
Our sympathy goes to Edith; Mike’s brother, Stuart; a stepson, Thomas Lutz; stepdaughter, Patricia Skelly; and four grandchildren.
The Class of 1950
RONALD W. MCKIRDY ’50
Ron died Sept. 12, 2005. He was in poor health at our 55th and was visiting a daughter in New York when he died.
Ron was a member of Elm Club and majored in public affairs. He earned an MBA from the Wharton School at Penn and served as a Navy ensign during the Korean conflict.
His professional career was entirely with Procter & Gamble. It included executive assignments in France, Belgium, and Switzerland that covered 18 years. At his retirement in 1984, Ron was vice president of acquisitions in Cincinnati. From his retirement home in Key Biscayne, Fla., he and his wife, Elly, traveled 28,000 miles, crisscrossing the U.S. with their black lab, Charlie, to see much that they had missed during their years in Europe.
After his wife’s death from cancer in 1993, Ron progressively “unretired” with numerous business ventures. Among those was a boat business in California, where he owned a ranch with a trout stream and bass lake. He donated a large part of the ranch to a nature conservancy. He was an avid birdwatcher who had more than 600 sightings.
We share the loss of Ron with his children, Mark, Dyanne, Kristin, Janis, and Kimberley, and his seven grandchildren.
The Class of 1950
DONALD G. MILLER ’50
Don died July 7, 2005, at his home in Greensboro, N.C.
Born in Waterloo, Iowa, Don graduated from high school there, and served in the Air Force from 1943 to 1946. At Princeton, he majored in politics and was a member of Quadrangle Club.
He listed his occupation as a real-estate salesman in our 10th-reunion directory. At our 25th, he signed in as an insurance underwriting director for United Guaranty Corp., and was delighted by his transfer to the Greensboro area. Unfortunately, ill health forced Don to take early retirement. He enjoyed gardening, landscaping, and watercolor painting.
Our sympathy goes to Molly, his wife of 54 years; his daughters, Lisa Fullington and Heather Johnson; his brother, Eric ’60; nephew Andrew ’91 and his wife, Whitney ’93; and three grandchildren.
The Class of 1950
GEORGE L. OHRSTROM JR. ’50
George died of pneumonia Oct. 6, 2005, at his home in The Plains, Va.
He graduated from St. Paul’s and was recognized as a major benefactor of the school when a new library was dedicated in his honor in 1991. He served in the Marine Corps from 1945 to 1946. At Princeton, he majored in history, lettered in crew, and organized a team from his club, Cottage, to row at Henley.
For his contributions to Princeton crew, an 8-oared shell bears his name.
In the early 1950s he worked at the State Department. In 1960, after five years with Lehman Brothers, he joined G.L. Ohrstrom & Co., a private-equity company founded by his father. He became the firm’s chairman in 1966.
George was an avid foxhunter and a breeder and owner of thoroughbred and steeplechase horses. He raced multiple-stakes winners in the U.S. and Europe.
As scion of one of Virginia’s wealthiest families, he was a highly respected philanthropist and conservationist who was an early supporter of easements to preserve open space. Under his chairmanship and vision, the National Sporting Library, the country’s only scholarly repository solely for equine and field sports, became a premier institution.
Our sympathy goes to George’s wife, Jacqueline; his sister; four children; and five grandchildren.
The Class of 1950
RONALD ULRICH ALTMAYER ’52
Ron died Aug. 8, 2005, after a long illness.
He entered Princeton with the Class of 1950 and roomed with Ray Fredrick Jr. ’48. Interrupting his education to serve with the Army’s Chemical Warfare Unit from 1948 to 1950, Ron returned to campus to graduate with the Class of 1952. He was a member of Terrace Club.
After graduate studies in psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and New York University, Ron completed his internship at various Veterans Administration hospitals. As a clinical psychologist, he served on the staffs of Elmhurst (N.Y.) General Hospital and Central Islip (N.Y.) State Psychiatric Hospital, and retired from Sagamore Children’s Hospital in Melville, N.Y. He also maintained a private practice.
An active member of the Princeton Alumni Association of Long Island, Ron was Alumni Schools Committee chair for Long Island in the 1980s and early 1990s. In this capacity, he enjoyed interviewing and writing detailed reports for dozens of applicants each year. Ron also served as an Annual Giving agent. Ron’s gentle, nonjudgmental manner will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by Narda, his wife of 53 years; their daughter Nancy Altmayer Silver ’82; son-in-law Peter Silver ’82; and grandchildren Harrison and Emily. The class offers them deepest sympathy.
The Class of 1952
RUSSELL T. BARNHART ’52
Russ died Sept. 14, 2003, in the New York State Veterans’ Home in Jamaica, N.Y., from complications of progressive dementia, which was diagnosed in 2001.
While he forsook his plan to study English and romance languages at Stanford, he forged a lasting reputation and published eight books and many articles on gambling and magic, which he discovered at age 9.
Following two years in the Navy, Russ entered Andover, from which he graduated with honors. He joined our class in 1948, nattily attired in a bow tie, and seemed the quiet older brother in the second entry of Lockhart. Russ belonged to Key and Seal, majored in English, and became fluent in French and Spanish.
In 1960 he moved to New York City, where he nurtured his interest in gambling and magic. His publications included a translation of the Eugene Villiod trilogy, Crooks, Conmen, and Cheats; and his last book, Beating the Wheel, sold more than 30,000 copies. Russ was honored by the Institute of Gaming and Commercial Gambling at the University of Nevada in Reno, to which he had donated his entire gambling library.
A lifelong bachelor, Russ was survived at the time of his death by his brother, Kenneth ’45, and four nephews, to whom we offer deepest sympathy.
The Class of 1952
ALIO JOHN PERANTONI ’52
Following a period of increasing health problems, Alio died July 30, 2002.
Alio was born in Raritan, N.J., Sept. 17, 1928. After attending local schools he graduated from Somerville High School in 1945. He then enlisted in the Army, serving as a medical technician at Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, Colo., prior to a two-year tour in Japan.
Upon his return he entered Princeton, where he was a chemistry major and member of Dial Lodge. He played freshman football and was on the varsity track team for three years. His senior roommate was Clark Thompson.
After graduation Alio joined American Cyanamid, working as a research chemist and marketing manager for 15 years. In 1968 he became marketing and advertising manager with the Atlas Co. in Wilmington, Del., before returning to American Cyanamid and finally retiring in 1992.
Profoundly devoted to his family, Al moved with his wife, Jean, to Moreno Valley, Calif., to be near the families of their three children. He was also committed to his avocations of fly-fishing and astronomy.
At the time of his death, Al was survived by Jean; their children, Matthew, Lynn, and Mark; two grandchildren; and his sister, Clara. To them, we extend our condolences.
The Class of 1952
RICHARD DRAYTON ’53
Dick, who was born in Chestnut Hill, Pa., and counted three signers of the Declaration of Independence among his ancestors, died of Pick’s disease Oct. 4, 2005.
He prepared at Lawrenceville, and at Princeton he roomed with Bayard Henry, Gren Paynter, Fred Wonham, and John Wright. He majored in history and was secretary/treasurer of Colonial Club.
Dick married Constance “Fytie” Ludington in 1953 while a lieutenant in the field artillery. He was a senior vice president at Smith Barney and spent his entire business career with that brokerage as one of its most valued executives.
He was active in the Episcopal Diocese of Philadelphia, a chairman of Bryn Mawr Hospital, and a founding board member of Main Line Health.
Even during his illness, Dick remained a ’53 patriot, and Bob Hauptfuher and Jim Ridgway would drive him to class functions. At his memorial service, which was attended by many Princetonians including four alumnae, “Old Nassau” was sung.
He is survived by Fytie; sons Richard Jr. and Geoffrey W.; daughter Constance Old ’85; sister Mary Grant; and seven grandchildren. Dick was predeceased by his brother, John W. ’43, by 10 days. John Beck remembers Dick as we do: “A wonderful guy and a handsome one.”
The Class of 1953
CHARLES DEROSEAR HASTINGS ’53
Chuck died Sept. 14, 2005, at home in San Jose, Calif., after living with cancer for many years.
An “Army brat,” he spent his youth living in many parts of the U.S. and also in Panama. He studied medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and went to California for his internal medicine residency. He was stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany, while fulfilling his military obligation.
After his discharge, Chuck opened a private practice in San Jose. Six years later he joined Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara, Calif., where he practiced until he retired 10 years ago. Besides his beloved family, his passions were his patients, world travel, painting and sculpture, and learning. Chuck studied all manner of topics and enjoyed the learning process as much as the subject.
An intensely private man, he disappeared from Princeton’s view during the 1960s. Harry Hartzell and Tom Brandt rediscovered him in 2003. Tom recalls many adventures when Chuck and he worked backstage for Theatre Intime and Triangle Club. Chuck was best man at Tom’s wedding. His San Jose friends remember him for his smile, booming voice, and signature hearty laugh.
The class extends sympathy to Chuck’s wife, Suzanne; children Eric, Aaron, Heather, Nicole, and Mark; grandchildren August and Adrian; and brother Wally.
The Class of 1953
ARCHIBALD CAMERON VORIS III ’53
Arch, who stood for solidity like the limestone quarried in his hometown of Bedford, Ind., died Aug. 31, 2005, at the Cleveland Clinic after a long battle with congestive heart failure.
Chuck was in the fourth generation of his family to grow up in the house built by his great-grandfather, Archibald C. Voris Sr., a Civil War Union Army colonel. He was the starting guard on his high school basketball team that went to the state semifinals. At Princeton he was an outstanding golfer. He and his fellow Tiger Inn member, golf captain Frank Rhodes, were a force on the fairways. He received his degree in economics, roomed with Hugh Richardson during his senior year, and served in the Army.
In 1955, Chuck joined Citizens National Bank in Bedford, rising to chairman before retiring in 1989. At his funeral, the minister spoke of his community spirit (during snowstorms he treated city workers to hot meals), his good humor, and his generosity.
He is survived by his wife, Lorenda; daughter Elizabeth Ochoa; son Joseph W.; brother James E.; three grandchildren; two stepchildren; two step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild. Arch was a fan of traditional jazz, and one of his favorite songs played in that style was “Back Home in Indiana.” He’s there now.
The Class of 1953
JAMES H. GREENWALD ’54
Jim died Nov. 14, 2005, in Chicago.
Born in Trenton, N.J., Jim prepared for Princeton at Lawrenceville. A biology major and member of Campus Club, he was active in many campus activities.
After Princeton, he graduated from Yale Medical School. He interned at Cook County (Ill.) Hospital and completed a medical residency there. His career in private practice was in Chicago, where he specialized in internal medicine and had subsequent training in nephrology. He was a member of many national medical societies and wrote several research papers. He retired from practice in 1996.
Jim was preceded in death in April by Judith Sclier Greenwald, his wife of 48 years. The class sends condolences to his son, Daniel ’81; daughter Jill; sister Weezie Davidson; and four grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made to the Cancer Caring House, P.O. Box 2559, Edwards, CO 81632.
The Class of 1954
Robert J. O’Donovan ’54
Bob died Nov. 24, 2005, at his home in North Windham, Conn.
Born in Newburgh, N.Y., Bob prepared for college at Newburgh Free Academy. At Princeton, he majored in chemical engineering, was a member of Dial Lodge, and was active in many IAA sports and the Aquinas Foundation.
After graduation, he worked as an engineer of Sacony Mobil and then studied theology at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He subsequently joined the Benedictine monastic community at Newton, N.J. He left the monastery in 1963 and began a 35-year career as a mathematics teacher. He received a master’s in mathematics at Brown University and then taught in Norwich, Conn., until his retirement in 1998.
Bob was a longtime member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and was deeply devoted to his family and his Catholic faith.
The class extends its condolences to his sons, Robert and Stephen; daughter Mary; a stepson; two brothers and two sisters; and many nieces and nephews.
The Class of 1954
PETER H. SCHENCK ’56
Pete died of a heart attack Sept. 24, 2005.
After graduating from the Lawrenceville School, he entered Princeton with our class but left after sophomore year. He remained a loyal Tiger over the years and was looking forward to attending our 50th reunion.
Pete spent a year at Elmhurst College followed by two years in the Army. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in business.
Pete was a member of the Chi Psi fraternity and had been national chairman of its educational trust. He spent his career in the textile industry and retired in 2000 as vice president of his company. He also was active in the leadership of the Community Presbyterian Church in Clarendon Hills, Ill.
Pete was proud of his Dutch heritage and was president of the Midwest branch of the Holland Society. He was an avid golfer and baseball fan. With his wife, Ann, he was a regular in Phoenix for the Cubs’ spring
training.
We remember Pete as a good friend, whose warmth and good humor will be sorely missed. Our deepest sympathies go to Ann, the couple’s four children, and six grandchildren.
The Class of 1956
PETER F. KOHLER ’57
Peter died Sept. 16, 2005, after a lifelong career in the medical profession and a lifelong battle with diabetes.
At Princeton, he majored in history, joined Tiger Inn, and roomed in his senior year with Frank Jones, John Thomas, and Rick Weiss.
After graduating, Peter spent four years in medical school at Columbia. He then went to the University of Minnesota for an internship and residency in internal medicine. There he met and married Christa Eckert.
The couple moved to La Jolla, Calif., for a research fellowship at the Scripps Clinic. Next, Peter became a full-time faculty member at the University of Colorado Medical School, teaching there for 18 years and heading the division of clinical immunity.
Then he moved to Tulane University, where he became chief of medical service at Charity Hospital and associate director of the general clinical research center. He edited a book on Charity Hospital, the oldest hospital in continuous existence in the U.S.
Peter and Christa lived on a small horse farm across Lake Pontchartrain and kept a condo in the New Orleans French Quarter..
He is survived by Christa, sons Michael ’88, Nicholas ’89, and Andre; a sister; and two grandsons. The class offers its sincerest condolences to Peter’s wife and family.
The Class of 1957
JOSHUA TAGGART MILLER ’95
Josh, an All-American player and co-captain of Princeton’s varsity lacrosse team, died June 16, 2005, after a struggle with depression.
At Princeton, Josh was a history major and a member of Cap and Gown Club. After graduation, he moved to New York City and for five years was an investment analyst for Credit Suisse First Boston.
During this period, he helped guide Hofstra University to the NCAA lacrosse tournament in 1966.
In 2000, while working as an investment analyst at Vista Equity Partners in San Francisco, he helped fund Lacrosse For LIFE, a nonprofit lacrosse program dedicated to the betterment of the lives of inner-city youth through lacrosse and education.
Josh was tireless in his support of Princeton lacrosse as well, and worked to positively affect many young people’s lives at numerous lacrosse camps at Princeton and on the West Coast.
Friends and classmates of Josh held a charity event Oct. 20 in New York to honor him. The event celebrated Josh’s life and raised money for Lacrosse for LIFE.
Donations in his memory can be made through http://www.lacrosseforlife.org.
Josh is survived by his parents, Edwin and Sherry Miller, and his grandparents, Mary Taggart, and Edith May and Charles Hobart. To his family and friends, the class extends deepest sympathy.
The Class of 1995
GRADUATE SCHOOL
PHILIP F. PATMAN *62
Philip Franklin Patman, a distinguished attorney, died of heart failure Feb. 5, 2005, in Austin, Texas. He was 67.
A native Texan, Patman graduated from the University of Texas in 1959, earned a master’s in history from Princeton, and returned to his alma mater for a law degree in 1964. He began his career in Washington with the Department of State, soon moving to the Department of Housing and Urban Development as deputy director of the office of international affairs.
In 1969, he returned to Austin to practice energy regulatory law. Over the next two and half decades, he served the state of Texas in various capacities on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC), the regulatory body representing the interests of U.S. member states producing domestic oil and natural gas.
Patman also dedicated himself to community service, including advisory work for the University of Texas as well as membership on the board of directors of the Austin Symphony Orchestra Society.
He and his wife, Katherine Sellers Patman, enjoyed foreign travel and visited more than 130 countries on all seven continents of the world.
Patman leaves behind his wife, a son, a daughter, and a granddaughter.
PAUL R. CHESEBRO *27, Chemistry, June 20, 2005
FRANCIS J. CROWLEY *31, Modern Languages and Literature, Aug. 13, 2005
A. JAN P. LaRUE *42, Music, Oct. 17, 2004
ANDREW L. KELEMEN *50, Economics, Sept. 18, 2005
ROBERT E. KNAPP *54, Woodrow Wilson School, April 26, 2005
RICHARD L. WEST *54, Civil Engineering, July 22, 2003
EDWARD R. HINDMAN *55, Civil Engineering, Sept. 12, 2005
LOUIS O. NICOLAYSEN *55, Geology, June 25, 2005
WILLIAM B. BROWNE *57, Aeronautical Engineering, Sept. 1, 2004
CHARLES W. McCASKILL *57, Oriental Languages and Literature, Aug. 13, 2005
PETER ANDRU *58, Civil Engineering, June 9, 2005
CARL E. HELM *59, Psychology, Aug. 24, 2005
JAMES M. EVANS *62, Architecture, Sept. 26, 2005
ROBIN J. SCROGGS *62, Religion, April 25, 2005
ALBERT C. KYSER *71, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, June 13, 2005
STEPHEN A. SALMORE *72, Politics, Sept. 25, 2005
SHEAU-SUEY LI *75 *81, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Feb. 2, 2005
ROBERT C. WANG *78, Chemistry, Feb. 9, 2000
KENNETH MERRYMAN *90, History, May 25, 2004
