1961 Class News Archive

John Kremer III

John died on November 26, 2025, in Scarborough. Maine. Born in Montclair, N.J., he came to us from St. George’s School. At Princeton he majored in History, joined Army ROTC, took his meals at Charter Club, and was a cheerleader and assistant Business Manager of Triangle Club. During junior year he married Joan Lee.

Following service as an officer in the Army, he worked for the Insurance Company of North America and Atlantic Richfield for 20 years, with overseas postings in Spain (six years) and the U.K. Shifting professions he then became the business manager of Fryberg Academy in Fryberg, Maine, where he met his second wife, Leslie Russell.

Along the way they served as Peace Corps volunteers in Lithuania, traveled in New Zealand, and cooked professionally. A perpetual learner, he learned to cane chairs and took violin lessons well into his seventies (“The cat hates me and Leslie always manages to be elsewhere when I practice,” he observed).

John was predeceased by Leslie few months before he died. He is survived by his children Ellen and John, and four grandchildren, as well as three stepdaughters and their families.

Posted 2/17/26

Alan MacKenzie

Al died at home in Hartford, CT, on October 27, 2025, after a fall that caused kidney failure. The son a of a Navy Admiral, he was born at the Naval base in Cavite in the Philippines and came to us from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Maryland.

At Princeton he majored in Basic Engineering, took his meals at Quad, and rowed lightweights all four years, serving as captain in our senior year. When asked his major, he would say, “Crew.” His roommates were John Cooper, Larry Brennan, Pete Finch and Walt Conrad.

Then began a variegated career that included an MBA from Stanford followed by positions with Chevron, General Foods and Otis domestically and internationally, and included a one-year fellowship at MIT. Not happy in the corporate world, he then acquired the Hitchcock Chair Company in Hartford, which closed its doors in 1990. He then founded Our Piece of the Pie, a nonprofit that connected young people with small businesses and was involved with other civic and charitable organizations right up to his death.

Al is survived by Carole, his wife of 45 years; children Chas and Katherine; two stepchildren; and eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

Posted 2/14/26

Gerald P. Norton

We lost Jerry on December 5, 2025 in Ipswich, MA, after a bout with pneumonia and a long struggle with dementia. Born in Boston, he came to us from Baldwin High School on Long Island, where he and Don Kornrumpf were opposing football captains and lifetime friends. At Princeton he majored in Economics, ate at Cap and Gown, and was a varsity football letterman and wrestler. He roomed with Don Kornrumpf, Clark Woolley, John MacMurray, Stan Baldwin and Bob Craft.

After earning his LLD at Columbia, Jerry spent his career practicing law in Washington, DC at Covington Burling, then as a partner at Pepper, Hamilton & Sheetz, and finally as a founding partner and ultimately senior counsel of Harkins Cunningham. He retired in 2018.

“Norts” cherished his Princeton friendships and missed very few major reunions. He was a lifelong athlete, playing rugby for many years and tennis weekly, and took up windsurfing in his 40’s.

Predeceased by his first wife Judy, he is survived by Amanda, his wife of 54 years, sons Adam and Jeremy and daughter Liza (Elizabeth ’91) and their families, which include six grandchildren.

Posted 2/14/26

Charles N. Watson, Jr.

Chuck died at home in Westbrook, Connecticut, on November 15, 2025.

He came to Princeton from Pelham High School. At Princeton he was pre-med, majored in English, and ran cross-country and track. He briefly took his meals at Key and Seal, then joined friends Contee Seeley and Bill Rough to "eat on the street." From Princeton he went to Duke to earn a doctorate in American Literature. He taught at Washington State Pullman before moving east to join the faculty of Syracuse University, where he taught for 35 years.

Toward the end of his academic career, Chuck's lifelong interest in the natural world and self-sufficiency moved him to buy an old farmhouse and surrounding land in Manlius, NY. There he planted a garden that fed himself and neighbors, and often helped to stock a local food bank. In 2008 he and his life partner, Nance, moved to Connecticut to be closer to family.

After years of birding on his own, he joined the Audubon Society and traveled to the Carolina low country, Africa, and down east Maine in the company of old friends in search of “new” birds. He edited Audubon and Audubon Eco-Travel publications for a decade.

Chuck reveled in family life with the five children and eight grandchildren he and Nance shared. To all of them, the class offers its condolences.

Posted 2/7/26

Harley Rankin, Jr.

Harley “Toby” Rankin, Jr. died on Dec. 29 at Sage Living in Jackson, WY. He was 86.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Toby graduated from Episcopal Academy in 1957 and from Princeton University in 1961, where he played squash and ate at Cottage Club. His senior roommates were Barker, Ed Brown, Butt, Driscoll, Garrett, Mack, Bill Miller, and Sanger.

After college, Toby attended Officer Candidate School and served in the U.S. Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant before studying at Harvard Business School, where he graduated with his MBA in 1967.

Toby built a long and distinguished career in finance, holding senior leadership roles at companies in the packaging industry before retiring in June 2002. He served as vice president and chief financial officer of Continental Can Company until it was the subject of a hostile takeover, one of several that Toby came through with resilience and determination.

He later joined two former executives from Continental Can who founded the packaging company Silgan Holdings. As executive vice president and chief financial officer, Toby shepherded the company from its startup stage through an initial public offering on the NYSE and contributed to its steady growth. Toby, along with both Silgan CEOs, was giving a presentation on the 41st floor of The World Trade Center Tower 2 on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 when the terrorist attack occurred. All three were lucky to have survived. Toby retired in 2002 from Silgan with a plaque entitled “The Velvet Hammer,” an endearing term for his leadership.

Toby led an active life, continuing his favorite sports of squash, tennis, golf and fly-fishing as long as he was able. He served on boards both for the town of Darien, Connecticut, and for the YMCA where he contributed his financial expertise. Toby and Lucy moved to Jackson Hole in 2000 to embrace the active outdoor lifestyle and to be closer to their children who live in the Mountain West states.

A 1997 New York Times headline about Silgan Holdings characterized Toby’s life and career: “Despite a lack of bells and whistles, a can maker can be a good buy.” Lucy loved that line and they joked about it often. His long goodbye to a productive life was a valiant attempt to battle Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. He will be deeply missed.

Toby is survived by his wife, Lucy, and their three children, Chris, Todd, and Susie. Also his six beloved grandchildren: Emma, Molly, Eli, Zoe, Will, and Greer. He also leaves behind his sister, Binney McCague, and his brother, Peter Rankin. He was a loving and generous husband, father and grandfather.

Posted 1/22/26

Frederick D. Marquardt

Fred died on July 10, 2025, in Waxhaw, N.C. after a battle with cancer. He came to Princeton from Monroeville, PA, where he graduated from Turtle Creek High School. At Princeton he took his meals at Wison Lodge, majored in History, and was a member of the German Club and the Broken Arrow Club. He roomed with David Gay and David Kelly.

We are not sure about the next ten or so years of his life, but in 1973 he earned a Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Berkeley, then teaching at the University of Michigan before joining the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University. He taught there until his retirement, when he moved to North Carolina to be near his sister Anita.

At Syracuse he was appointed a Maxwell Professor of Teaching Excellence and was known for strict grading, but comments abound extolling his undergraduate teaching, almost always coupled with a grudging appreciation for his refusal to compromise his standards. One former student described him as “the most difficult, yet fairest, teacher I have ever had.”

He is survived by his sister Anita and her spouse, Tom Toth.

Posted 1/21/26

John F. McLaughlin

John died on November 25, 2025, while celebrating his 64th wedding anniversary with his beloved wife, at home in Arlington, VA. Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls, NJ.

At Princeton, “The Redman” was VP and Co-Social Chair of Court Club, a member of The Aquinas Foundation, and Whig-Clio. He roomed with Nick Gotten and graduated with a History degree.

Then John chose civil service, starting at the R&D budget office of the then two-year old Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, DC. Moving to the U.S. Postal Service at postal headquarters included leading efforts that brought passport application processing to post offices nationwide. After twelve years and serving eight Postmasters General, John left for The Program on Information Policy Research at Harvard University. At PIRP he wrote “Mapping the Information Business,” a tool for viewing the whole information industry and the companies in it, which was translated into 20+ languages. During this time, John was elected a selectman in Lexington, MA.

In 1995, John retired and moved to Arlington, VA.

John is survived by his wife, Patty and their children, Moira, John, and Kevin, as well as six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Posted 1/8/26

Philip H. Pritchard

Phil Pritchard, of Asheville, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2025.

Born on January 3, 1939, Phil lived a life rich in service, stewardship, and hospitality. He graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology, and ate at Quadrangle Club. After college, he served his country as a naval officer.

On November 17, 1972, Phil married Elizabeth “Liz” O’Shea, the love of his life. Their adventures together took them to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Hammondsport and Rochester, New York; Palm Beach County, Florida; and finally, Asheville, where they settled in 1999. Liz’s obituary captured their decades of shared purpose in education, hospitality, and community, and Phil’s devotion to her—before and after her passing in 2020—remained constant.

In the Caribbean, Phil managed Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, bringing his easy laugh and exacting standards to a place that welcomed travelers from around the world. Later, in New York’s Finger Lakes, he became the vineyard manager (“vineyard master”) at Heron Hill Winery, where he delighted in the craft of tending vines and celebrating the wines and people of Hammondsport.

Phil’s love of the natural world led him to conservation work with The Nature Conservancy, and then to a calling that defined his later years: restoring the American chestnut. Based in Asheville, he served with The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) as Director of Development and Special Projects, rallying support for the Foundation’s science-driven breeding and restoration efforts.

Phil also helped connect TACF’s mission to national leaders and institutions. In September 2005, he spoke at a chestnut planting at The Carter Center in Atlanta, an event attended and supported by former President Jimmy Carter, a longtime friend of conservation. TACF later highlighted President Carter’s role in establishing a demonstration orchard at the Center—an effort Phil worked on diligently.

Phil was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elizabeth “Liz” O’Shea Pritchard (1934–2020), and by the many friends and colleagues who knew him as a steadfast, generous presence.

Posted 1/4/26