Joseph Ellis Prather, 84, of Summit, and a former long-time resident of Bernardsville and Far Hills, NJ, died from complications of Parkinson’s disease on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. His family was by his side in his final days, recalling special moments and contemplating all that he had brought to their lives.
He was a remarkable individual, known for his broad range of passions, sense of adventure, intellectual curiosity, and zest for life. With his gregarious nature, he enlivened any social scene, especially in Bernardsville, Short Hills, and Bay Head, where he and his family summered for many years. His stylish attire and neat appearance earned him the moniker, “Pristine Prather.”
He was born on Sept. 29, 1939, in Philadelphia. His childhood was spent in Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and an especially formative year in post-World War II Greece. After high school in Swarthmore, Pa., and Okemos, Mich., he attended Princeton University, where he joined Cannon Club and competed in intramural sports. His time at Princeton also began a lifetime commitment to alumni and philanthropic activities. He was reunion chair, class president, and founder of the Princeton Class of 1961 Foundation, which has supported Teach for America and STEM initiatives for underserved areas. He served for many years as Grand Marshal of the P-rade and was honored for his contributions to reunions by induction into the Society of the Claw.
He was president of the metal stamping company Edson Tool & Manufacturing in Belleville, where he registered cable closure patents and transitioned the company to subcontracting components for the burgeoning personal computer market. He later founded the Macaw Company to service this market in Ireland. While living and working there he developed a deep appreciation for its people, culture, and natural beauty.
The most striking of Joe’s adventures was his African safari. He channeled his interest in hunting and fishing as president of the sporting goods company Griffin & Howe. During his later visits to Africa, his focus shifted to philanthropic efforts, in particular a project to decrease deforestation by introducing high efficiency stoves. Joe served on the boards of the Campbell Foundry and the Fairmount Cemetery Association of Newark and Somerset Hills. He was actively involved in the Essex Club in Newark, the Bay Head Yacht Club, the Essex Hunt Club and Hudson Farm.
Joseph is survived by his beloved wife for over 60 years, Evelyn, and their children, Anthony Prather, Wendy Prather Burwell, Christopher Prather, Alex Prather and Marnie O'Connell. He also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Princeton Class of 1961 Foundation, Inc. Donations should be sent to: Princeton Class of 61 Foundation, Accounting Department, in care of Deborah Brien, 50 Mad River Road, Campton, NH 03223. Contributions in Joseph’s memory will support causes close to his heart and honor his legacy.
Posted 12/8/23
Jeffrey W. Morgan
Jeffrey Walter Morgan, 84, of West Hartford, Connecticut, passed away on November 4, 2023, after an unexpected accident.
Jeff was a gregarious individual who always brightened the room with his presence. Known for his informative conversations on a wide range of topics, he was someone who could engage anyone in a fun discussion. He was also known for his willingness to lend a helping hand to those in need.
In his personal life, Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Sandra Morgan, and his children Gregory Morgan and Susanne Morgan Taylor. He was also a proud grandfather to his grandsons, Cole Morgan and Crew Morgan.
Jeff's educational journey included graduating from Andover Academy and attending Princeton University, where he joined Tower Club and performed in Triangle Club. After college, he lived in Massachusetts and Illinois before returning to Connecticut, where he would live the rest of his life.
During his career, Jeff served as a project manager in the data processing industry. He held positions at RCA, Travelers, Hamilton Standard, and ITT Hartford, where he made significant contributions.
Jeff had a thirst for knowledge and enjoyed learning about various topics mainly through reading and conversation. He cherished his walks with his dogs, not only for the exercise but also for the opportunity to engage with friends and neighbors. He was an avid lover of cars, played the piano and thoroughly enjoyed watching all kinds of sports (especially those where UConn was playing).
As per his wishes, no memorial services will be held to commemorate Jeff's life.
Posted 12/2/23
Pettibone on PAWcast panel
PAW is Princeton University’s editorially independent magazine by alumni, for alumni. On the monthly PAWcast we interview alumni, faculty, and students about their books, their work, and issues that matter to the Princeton community.
Nov 3, 2023
PAWcast: Three Alumni on Ukraine, Putin, and Nuclear War
Jeff Burt ’66, Jim Hitch ’71, and Peter Pettibone ’61 might know a bit more about Russia than the average Princetonian. All three headed up the Soviet and Russian practices of the international.....
Dick passed away on July 10, 2023, in Jackson, WY, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. Born in Berkeley Springs, WV, he came to us from Montgomery Blair High School. At Princeton, he was in the then-Woodrow Wilson School, served as business manager of Triangle, was an Orange Key Keyceptor and a member of the Aquinas Foundation. He took his meals at Cap and Gown and roomed with George Gray, Jim Lane, Hunter Platt, Frank Alexander, Bill Rudell, Justin Kimball, John McConnell and Paul Rubincam.
Following an MBA at Harvard, he spent his career in venture capital, first in Chicago, rooming with Paul Earle, then in New York, and finally at Wind River Partners, a private investment firm in Connecticut. Dick and Pam raised their family in Greenwich, CT. In 2001 they relocated to Wyoming and in 2008 he founded Niner Wine Estates in Paso Robles, CA, now managed by his son Andy.
Dick is survived by Pam, his wife of 51 years, his children Andrew and Katy ’03, and grandchildren Cora and Callan.
Posted 11/12/23
Ronald E. Goldman
Ron, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, passed away on September 28, 2023, at the age of 84 from acute myeloid leukemia. Like everything else in his life, he faced this challenge with humor and a warm smile.
The son of Dr. Theodore (Ted) and Rosalie Goldman, Ron was born on May 2, 1939, at Cedars in Los Angeles. He was the Beverly High School class president (1957), quarterback and ranked tennis player, and started on the football team at Princeton University, and joined Cottage Club. His senior roommates were Blair, Boorn, Bob Diaz, Fields, Loftus and Spangenberg. He earned his master's degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from MIT. From age 10, he knew he wanted to be an architect. Throughout his life, his intuition was correct.
He told his parents the night he met Barbara, " I met the girl I want to marry." This August, they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. They have two children, Karen and Mark, in whom they instilled a love of family, the importance of education, and the beauty of art and culture. Ron and Barbara were a team, working together, literally side by side in the same office, designing houses for their family and clients, developing projects that made a difference in their communities, traveling and collecting art, and exploring new restaurants and galleries. Traveling nationally and abroad to watch their grandson Jason's kayak competitions were some of their favorite family trips. For the past twenty years, they have walked their Montana Avenue neighborhood at sunrise each morning.
Founding an architecture firm in 1975, Ron Goldman created some of the most distinguished homes, schools, religious buildings, and commercial developments in Southern California. He earned more than 50 design awards for his architecture and developments. His work is celebrated as "architecture that shelters without enclosing and defines without limiting." The Los Angeles Times called his work "the epitome of the California dream."
Ron was an advisor to the California Coastal Commission and worked with the City of Malibu to ensure proper building and design standards. A big believer that developments affect everyone in their environment, Ron did a wide range of community service to benefit both urban areas and remote communities worldwide. After a 50-year career as an active architect, Goldman retired but remained very active and passionate in his community projects, the most recent of which is Ron's Re-Create to Recreate, a conceptual effort to provide neighborhood parks within a short walking distance from residents in Compton and other urban areas.
He was a founding member and met weekly with S.M.a.r.t (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow), pursuing the philosophy that "good design is good business." At 84, Ron looked forward to his weekly breakfasts with his high school buddies and the reunion of his high school club, The Dukes.
Ron sought to change the world through his architectural talent and enriched the lives of many through the design and landscaping environment he created. We were lucky to experience the world through his dreams and his eyes and architecture.
He is survived by Barbara, Karen, and Mark, their spouses Lindsay and Maya, grandson Jason, brother Kenny (Lori), and sister Lynne Shapiro. There will be a private Celebration of Life. Donations to his memory can be made to Planned Parenthood LA or the Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI) Foundation.
Posted 10/19/23
Sent to the Class Secretary:
Hi George. I am Wendy Zaharko '74. Jay Webster and I have been very close friends for 55 years. I have his '86 jeep Cherokee in bright orange sitting outside my house in Aspen, Colorado.
Recently I attended his 10th wedding anniversary celebration to Patti and this was the cake that celebrated his 85th Birthday. The other 5 layered cake would not fit in the picture!
He gently asked if I could send this on to you for the PAW. I must say I absorbed much of my love for Princeton and all things orange and black from Jay, who is still a staunch Tiger after all these years.
Hope you are well and thriving. Wendy’74
Posted 10/13/23
From Class Treasurer and Honorary Class Member Ellen Boer to the Class Secretary:
Here is a picture of nine of us in South Africa with six Princetonians ….. albeit one Honorary. It is my fondest hope that we get a seventh. LOL. Like winning the lottery!
We had a special dinner on August 9, 2023 to celebrate what would’ve been Peter's and my 60th anniversary.
It was held at Singita, a private safari reserve in South Africa. Peter and I had visited Singita 11 times previously. We had planned to hold an anniversary dinner with our family there. It was attended by our four grandchildren, including Kate Boer '26, Andrew and Jessica Boer '93, and Alexa Boer Kimball '90 and her husband Ranch Kimball '81.
Posted 10/5/23
John C. Macmurray
"Mac", of New York City, died September 4, 2023, at the age of 84, with his longtime partner, Linda Donn, at his side.
Born and raised in Camp Hill, PA, he spent his early years hunting and fishing along the Susquehanna River. He was an all-star athlete and graduated Camp Hill High School as valedictorian and class president in 1957.
He went on to Princeton University, where he was a member of the Ivy Club, majored in philosophy and was a wingback on the varsity football team. He scored the only touchdown in the 1960 season closer against Dartmouth, landing his picture on the Princeton Alumni Weekly. His senior rooommates were Baldwin, Craft, Norton, Kornrumpf, Wesley and Wolers.
After graduating in 1961, he spent a year teaching math and painting in Greece. He sold one painting. Upon returning to New York City, he entered Columbia Law School, graduating in 1965. In 1973, Mac co-founded Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt, Maynard and Kristol where he was known for his legal acumen, boundless energy and sense of humor. He helped build and run the successful practice for 30 years before merging it with Ropes & Gray in 2003. John was a member of the Downtown Association, the Anglers Club, Racquet & Tennis Club, and the Knickerbocker Club. He was a member of Brick Church and served as trustee and member of its School Committee, a former board member at St. Bernard's School, served on the Princeton University Press and was an active supporter of Legal Outreach, an educational program serving low-income, urban youth in New York City. In 2019, John received Legal Outreach's first ever lifetime service award.
He leaves behind two sons, John F. and Grant C., their mother, Ann, daughter-in-law, Janine and two adoring grandchildren, Mac and Adele.
A memorial service was held at The Brick Presbyterian Church (62 East 92nd Street) on Monday, October 2nd at 4:30 PM, followed by a reception at The Knickerbocker Club.
We heard of Mac’s passing a few days ago with extreme sorrow. I knew he was very sick & he was expecting this since I communicated with him basically weekly for the last few years. We had a common passion for old Ford hot rods starting when we were ~ 14 years old. Mac even purchased a pristine 1934 Ford Pick Up hot rodded to the fullest from my brother in law in Buffalo. It was delivered to Mac at his farm in early July & he was already declining so he didn’t really get the chance to enjoy it. We did however have great fun with the process of buying it, fixing it up, extensive decisions, photos back & forth and so on. Mac was in pretty good shape thru April & May.
Thanks, George Morris
Posted 10/3/23
Sent to Class Treasurer:
Dear Ellen Boer,
Having just regular-mailed to you my class dues for last year and this year, I thought perhaps this bit of personal news might be worth sharing in class news:
I’m looking forward to celebrating the 25th anniversary of Stanford's Southeast Asia Program in Spring 2024. I began Southeast Asian studies at Stanford in 1999 and have headed the program ever since. I plan to retire in September 2024. Perhaps I’m not alone among classmates in thinking of writing an analytic memoir, including of course a retrospective on my time at Princeton. By “analytic memoir” I mean something more thoughtful and less self-focused than a mere recounting of personal events.
Regarding Princeton, e.g., I would want to reconsider the post-WWII “Silent Generation” label coined by Time in 1951, including of course the Class of 1957’s self-revelations in The Unsilent Generation (1958) edited by Princeton Prof. Otto Butz, whom I and other freshmen/sophomores knew. I btw would be happy to learn what others in our Class of 1961 may have thought about all that.
Thanks, Ellen, wishing you the best,
Don
Donald K. Emmerson emmerson@stanford.edu
Posted 9/27/23
Sent to Class Secretary:
I returned from an exhilarating afternoon at Princeton yesterday [Septermber 20th] where I moderated a fascinating discussion featuring former Solicitor General Neal Katyal on the topic “Arguing Civil Liberties in the Modern Supreme Court." Neal was joined by a panel of experts from the professoriate; and knowing I was punching way above my weight, I tried to contribute an observation now and then to the extent I could get a word in edgewise.
The event was sponsored by the Center for Democratic Politics, and co-sponsored by the School of Public and International Affairs, née the Woodrow Wilson School.
[L to R: Neal Katyal, Sarah Staszak, Deborah Pearlstein, Shaun Ossei-Owus, Jim Zirin]
The sponsors took me to dinner afterwards to a joint on Witherspoon Street, next door to Lahières, where the conversation continued, covering of course Trump, disqualification under the Fourteenth Amendment, and his four indictments. After a few drinks, I felt myself on a more level playing field.
Jim Gieske died of cardiac arrest on Aug. 10, 2023, at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton, formerly known as Memorial Hospital, a place where he cared for many patients over the years. He was 84.
Gieske was a lover of medicine, sailing adventures, orchids and family. At Princeton, he joined the Savoyards, the Glee Club, and the Sailing Club, ate at Charter, and his roommates were Gus Lewis and Bill Woodward. A Johns Hopkins trained surgeon, he gave up the glitz of a skyrocketing career and settled on the Eastern Shore to raise a family and care for his patients. Often patients would barter with him for the ducks they had shot to get a surgery performed. This was long before health insurance took over the art of medicine. So, he said yes to ducks, crabs and even crates of lobster. At heart, he was a country doctor.
His son Hardy remarked on how challenging it was as a young family man with two kids.
“Jim was in the Navy and sent off on a spy ship for seven months and couldn’t tell his wife where he was going. He told mom, ‘Don’t know where I am going and don’t know when I will be back.’ He missed (brother) Porter’s birth and was gone from September 1968 through Porter’s second birthday. His kids were little, and I think that experience really told him to cool down. Be a dad. So, he went from being a really highly trained general pediatric thoracic cardiac surgeon. He was going to be a big wig. That experience made him want to chill and become a small country doctor. He thought, ‘I want to bring my expertise to who ever comes through the door.’ He probably charged 0% to 25% of his patients. We had a freezer in the garage that would be full of soft shell crabs, oysters and chickens and hams,” Hardy said.
Gieske started an insurance company out of dissatisfaction. It was the Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care. With a few other doctors he created what is now the data analysis behemoth Qlarant.
Like all men there is the public self and the private.
“In public, he was a formal guy and liked to have intellectual conversations; the other side of him always like to have his hands in the dirt. There was a very casual organic unfettered simplicity to him. Gardening and sailing and medicine and all these collisions of the deeply intellectual study of something like music and just being in real life,” Hardy said.
“He was extremely gifted with his hands as a surgeon. And you know that whole Dutchman’s Lane complex was nothing until we put up the first medical building there and then the second. And then it all blossomed. It all started with 505 Dutchman’s Lane. Medicine today is a job, and when we practiced it was a passion. Today it is about how much time do you get off. When Jim and John and I practiced it was medicine and if we were lucky we slotted in family life where we could. What Jim and Judi did was remarkable. To have two active practices and raise three great sons,” Bysshe said.
Years later Gieske bought a live aboard barge and navigated the Seine in France for 10 summers. He also took off to sail around the Caribbean for two years saying, “We don’t know where we are going and we are going for and indefinite amount of time. Are you up for it?”
He took his wife and his son Hardy. Hardy taught his mom how to sail on the way.
Even after his two year sailing hiatus with his wife, Gieske never practiced in a hospital again, but he gave hundreds of consultations in his living room.
On the Joli Coeur (Pretty Heart), they traveled around 5,000 miles in France by barge. There was no shortage of vineyards, fresh bread and gooey cheese to experience aboard the 78-foot pleasure craft. They fell in love with France.
Even his last week seemed charmed. He took a trip to Martha’s Vineyard and was surrounded his family and grandchildren.
Posted 9/21/23
Richard M. Jones
Mahlon Jones, 83, of Evanston, passed away at his home Tuesday, July 4, 2023. He was born February 12, 1940 in Evanston, the son of Richard Ward Jones and Miriam Dorothy Jones, nee Eubank.
At Princeton, he rowed on lightweight crew, wrote for the Bric a brac, and joined the Woodrow Wilson Society.
He is survived by his brother, Lawrence Jones of Evanston.
Service and Interment private.
Posted 9/21/23
Ben was on his Fisherman’s Paradise (Pawleys Island, SC) beach recently and found the mullet run in full swing. Two sharks landed and released. The second one gave him all he could handle but a 35 minute fight ended successfully with a catch and release. This one was a horse - a 5’ 2” long blacktip that weighed in around 150 pounds!
Posted 9/14/23
9/21/23: to read more about Ben's fishing adventures, click here
Ben inherited Cookie's class baseball cap, and here is how he put it to good use
Posted 11/19/23
George Brakeley (on right) with Lance Odden.
They enjoyed lunch at the Dorset Field Club, Dorset VT on 9/8/23. Two old classmates exchanging stories.
Posted 9/9/23
Mason Ferry
Mason passed away peacefully on Sept. 1, 2023. Mason was the son of Dexter and Marian Ferry, born August 16, 1939 in Detroit, MI. An alumnus of Grosse Pointe University School ‘57 & Princeton University ‘61,where he ate at Dial Lodge, and his roommates were Prochilo, McKenzie, and Whitey Finch.
He was a veteran of the US Army. Then Mason had a long career at the National Bank of Detroit as Trust Officer before pursuing philanthropic endeavors. He led the expansion of the Detroit Science Center (now MI Science Center), tripling the former exhibit space. He was responsible for the design & construction of the new History Center of the GP Historical Society. He donated his time, talent, & treasure to Inland Seas, St. Patrick Senior Center, & other organizations.
Among his interests were historic arms & artillery. He was a member of the 1st MI Light Artillery Regiment (Loomis’ Battery). He had a passion for antique arms, art & architecture, sailing & history including Detroit.
Mason is survived by his wife of 40 years Mary Kaye Ferry (nee Schrage), sisters Marian Williams (Gray) & Julia Hale, his children Joshua Ferry (Lisa), Charles Kukawka (Theresa), Elizabeth Schneider (Kurt), Cheryl Kaye, Sara Guetzkow, and Clifford Kaye, his grandchildren Jay Gild (Joshua), Brady Kukawka, Molly Kukawka, Joseph Kukawka, Julia Kukawka, Lydia Kukawka, Harrison Kaye, Charlotte Kaye, Cecilia Kaye, Jack Schneider, Sophia Schneider, Taylor Haggarty, & Dylan Haggarty.
Visitation: Friday September 8, 4-8 PM at A. H. Peters Funeral Home, Grosse Pointe Woods. Memorial service: Saturday September 9, Noon at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 21620 Greater Mack Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI. In lieu of flowers please send donations sent to St. Patrick Senior Center, 58 Parsons, Detroit MI 48201 or Hospice of MI.
Posted 9/9/23
August 5, 2023 note sent to Class Secretary;
Steven Schaefer and I met up for a mini-reunion in July in Columbia, SC. Steven is on another of his long distance trips across three continents. It was fun catching up.
Pinckney Roberts
Posted 8/16/23
Richard A. Webster
Dick passed away on July 21, 2023 at age 84 in Chicago, his home for the previous 33 years. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, and came to us from St. Paul’s School. At Princeton he majored in Economics, was in the Outing Club and took his meals at Key & Seal. He roomed with Bill Rough and Jim Palmer.
After Princeton Dick went on to enjoy a long career in banking that took him from New York City to Hartford, CT and finally Chicago. He had a passion for history, gardening, bird watching and jigsaw puzzles. He enjoyed spending time in Ireland, where he will be buried, and going for extensive walks throughout the varied neighborhoods of Chicago. But most of all, he loved spending time with his family.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Brigid Maloney, whom he married in 1969. They spent the next 54 years together, having two children, Maeve and Richard.
Posted 8/13/23
Received from Co-class agent Charlie Rippin:
Co-class agent Rob Walker recently reported these ’61 AG FY2023 results to president Peter Pettibone: 54% of our class (231 members) contributed a total of $164,175, exceeding our FY23 financial goal of $161,961. (47.5 % of all Princeton undergraduate alumni contributed to the University’s FY23 Annual Giving a total of nearly $74M.)
He also sent an updated list of regional AG section chairs, which is posted on the Class Officers' page.
Posted 8/5/23
Major gift from Gilbert Omenn ’61 and Martha Darling *70 names bioengineering institute
The Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute will promote new directions in research and education at the intersection of engineering and the life sciences while serving as the home for new interdisciplinary bioengineering programs.
“This extraordinary gift from Gil Omenn and Martha Darling will accelerate bioengineering innovation to address some of the 21st century’s most critical challenges,” said President Christopher L. Eisgruber ’83. “Given Gil and Martha’s exceptional leadership and their scientific and policy achievements, it is especially fitting that the Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute will be named for them. This new institute will amplify the University’s strengths at the intersection of engineering, machine learning, public policy, and natural sciences, with interdisciplinary collaboration yielding significant benefits to human health and the environment. I am deeply grateful to them both for their vision and friendship.”
Bioengineering research at Princeton is an interdisciplinary endeavor. The Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute will include a team of core faculty members and will also convene affiliated faculty from across campus. The current Princeton Bioengineering Initiative, which launched in 2020, has involved faculty from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, the Princeton Neuroscience Institute and the departments of molecular biology, physics, chemistry, and ecology and evolutionary biology.
The Bioengineering Initiative has been led by Cliff Brangwynne, the June K. Wu ’92 Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering. His research has changed how scientists understand cellular organization by linking biology with materials science and engineering, leading to foundational insights about cell functions and suggesting new ways to treat diseases such as cancers, ALS and Alzheimer’s. He has earned many accolades for his work, including being named a MacArthur Fellow, a Sloan Fellow and a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator.
“Gil and Martha recognize that Princeton must play a leading role in bioengineering, one of the most important fields for humanity this century,” Brangwynne said. “Their fantastic gift will have a major impact on Princeton students and faculty for generations to come.”
The Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute will be housed in the new environmental sciences and engineering neighborhood, scheduled to be completed in 2025, and will expand research already underway in the Bioengineering Initiative. The Institute’s main areas of focus will be cellular engineering, biomedical instruments and devices, and computational bioengineering. An important part of its work will be to bolster innovation and entrepreneurship as well as ties to the region’s biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
“Supporting Cliff Brangwynne and other Princeton researchers with the Grand Challenges fund in bioengineering really captured our imagination,” said Omenn. “The more that is learned in this field, the more we realize we have yet to understand, a common experience. This is an exciting area, where new technologies, basic biology, and chemistry, physics, mathematics and computational sciences all need to be brought together. This emerging institute will do exactly that.”
The Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute will promote collaboration across disciplines, bringing together scholars and researchers who are exploring experimental and computational methods as well as the ethical and public policy implications of new ideas and technologies.
“Pairing biology and engineering together is very intriguing to us, especially because of Gil’s professional contributions in the fields of computational medicine and bioinformatics,” Darling said. “In addition, Princeton is uniquely positioned to highlight in-depth exploration of the ethical and policy implications of this rapidly evolving field. Princeton faculty are very aware of the larger societal context that is involved in some of these technological breakthroughs.”
“The Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute will accelerate Princeton’s leadership at the forefront of this exciting engineering frontier, with unlimited potential for positive impact on health, medicine and quality of life,” said Andrea Goldsmith, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Arthur LeGrand Doty Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “The institute will bring together the most innovative faculty and students in the field and provide them with the foundation needed to enable transformative research and teaching. With its world-class faculty across relevant areas and its robust culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, Princeton is now well-poised to shape the trajectory of bioengineering long into the future.”
Posted 7/22/23
Thomas C. Koehler
Tom died of leukemia on March 15, 2023 in San Diego, CA. Born in Morristown, NJ, he came to us from Deerfield Academy but was with us for only two years, moving on to join the Navy and earn his Naval Aviator wings in 1961, fulfilling a lifelong dream. He served in the Navy until retirement in 1980, emerging as a Commander. His aviation career included two combat tours in Southeast Asia logging more than 200 combat missions over Vietnam. Overall he flew more than 5,400 hours and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as other decorations. Along the way he earned a BA in International Relations at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
After retirement he worked with the Singer Corporation as an aviation project manager for several years, and then, for the next 32 years, worked with his wife Nancy in her business, Home Medical Claims, assisting the elderly with all facets of their lives. He also was a docent on the USSS Midway.
Tom is survived by his son Steve, daughter Katie Bianchi, and four grandchildren. Nancy, his wife of 61 years, died only a month after Tom.
Posted 7/20/23
Note to Class Secretary
Hi, George!
Your news that Cookie Krongard had passed away in May hit me especially hard, perhaps because I have not yet adjusted to my loss of my wife Sandra in April.
Within the last couple of years, I accompanied Sandy to her cancer treatment and, as she later told me, when a nurse asked her to state her name, the patient across the room asked “Aren’t you married to John Schwartz?” He identified himself as Howard Krongard, which didn’t register with Sandy, but when he then said “Cookie,” she understood (she had been with me to 3 reunions) and replied that I was right outside in the waiting area if he wanted to say hello. It was great seeing him (he was wearing his Princeton letter) and the nurses got a kick out of our college reunion in adjoining treatment areas. I assume there will be a Memorial in a future PAW.
Thanks for the attention you gave my retirement in Class Notes. I assume by now Len has updated my post-retirement phone number (212-777-1759) and e-mail address (johnandsandra33@gmail.com) into class records. You deserve a medal for all these years of doing this job (I’m doing it for my high school class).
Best regards,
John Schwartz
Posted 7/15/23
More from John:
Thanks, Len. I looked at the class news and saw that Bob Schweizer had died this year, which brings up another story: at Princeton, you may recall that they often assigned seats in big lecture courses alphabetically, so in several courses I was always seated between John Schulz and Bob Schweizer. After graduation, law school, the army and a wedding, Sandy and I got an apartment in Manhattan and upon moving in were greeted by the tenant in the apartment next to ours, the same Bob Schweizer! My reaction was a cry of relief: “Why real life is just like college!"
Posted 7/17/23
Robert D. Schweizer
Bob died on February 28, 2023, in a hospice in Tucson, AZ, his home for many years, after a general decline in his health. Born in New Brunswick, NJ, he came to us from Pingry School. At Princeton he majored in Biology, performed in Triangle and was a cheerleader and a Keyceptor. He took his meals at Quad, where he lived during our senior year.
Following an M.D. at Cornell, he served in the Air Force, including a tour in Vietnam. After the service, Bob was a radiology resident at NYU Hospital-Bellevue Medical Center. In 1974, he went into private practice with Radiology Limited in Tucson, retiring in 2000. For some years thereafter he consulted with three green companies in Arizona and California.
This all comes from his entry in our 50th Reunion Yearbook. We have no information about his life since then.
In recent years it appears Bob became largely reclusive. He had no survivors, and there was no obituary.
Posted 7/15/23
Andrews R. Walker
Andy, age 83, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2023 at his home in East Hampton, NY with his loving wife of 21 years, Angelika Siggelkow Walker by his side. He is survived by his nephew C. Carter Walker, III (Jamie), his niece Julia Walker Robinson (Chris), a grand-niece, three grand-nephews and a great-niece. Andrews was born in 1939 to Coleman C. Walker and Lucie Andrews Walker in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He was the great-grandson of Robert Stringfellow Walker, who founded the boys preparatory school Woodberry Forest in Orange, Virginia, in 1889 where Andrews attended from 1954-57 graduating academically first in class. He served nine years as a trustee and one year as vice chairman of the board focusing on the investment endowment of the school. In recognition of his efforts Woodberry presented Andrews with the Woodberry Forest Distinguished Service Award.
He graduated from Princeton University with an A.B. in Economics, where he ate at Cottage Club, played tennis and squash, and roomed with Bramlette, Siegel, and MacDonald. After his military service from 1962-1965 at the USNR Office of Naval Intelligence, Pentagon, he received an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School in 1969.
In New York City in the early 1970's he was a Vice President at the Wall Street investment banking firm White Weld & Co. Inc. until 1976. He accepted a position with Transco Co., in Houston Texas as Vice President Corporate. After three years in Houston Andrews returned to New York City in 1978 where he worked briefly for Chase Manhattan in corporate finance with a stint in London. He remained active in banking, financial consulting, working with a number of companies primarily in the oil and gas industry, and the citrus and vineyard business. Eastern Long Island became home for Andrews. He was a member of the President's Council of the Peconic Land Trust, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the natural beauty of Long Island.
Sports were a significant part of Andrew's life. He enjoyed skiing and mountain climbing. He was inspired by his service on the Board of Outward Bound and climbed the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and went on a Trek in the Himalayas maintaining his training at the Racquet & Tennis Club, New York. In previous years he was enthusiastic about playing tennis at the Meadow Club, Southampton, the River Club, New York and the Maidstone Club, East Hampton as well as the Bath and Tennis Club, Palm Beach until he was more actively playing golf in East Hampton.
More important, though, than biographical details, Andrews was a loving husband, a dear friend to many and the definition of a Southern gentleman. Following his wishes a private service will be held.
Published by New York Times on Jun. 18, 2023.
Posted 7/5/23
Stephen J. Lerman
Stephen James Lerman passed away peacefully at home on June 6, 2023 at age 83 after suffering from a rare form of lung tumor. Steve was born to Jacob and Jeanne (Rosenbaum) Lerman in Brookline, MA. He graduated from Belmont Hill School, Princeton University (where he ate at Quadrangle Club), and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Steve was in his element as summer camp counselor at his beloved North Woods on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Steve continued his medical training in pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital. He then served in the US Public Health Service investigating disease outbreaks in Nigeria. Steve strived to improve public health by organizing children's vaccine trials at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE including the first trial of flu vaccine for children. He furthered his education in public health earning a Masters in Public Health at Harvard University.
Steve thrived on travel adventures. He visited over 50 countries in his lifetime. He consulted on child health programs from Africa to Asia, and in Switzerland working for the World Health Organization. After Hurricane Katrina, Steve volunteered and activated as a Captain in the US Public Health Service. In 22 trips to China, he guided American families adopting almost 300 children.
Steve met the love of his life, Phyllis, on a volunteer archeology expedition to Turkey. They married in Brookline, MA in 1999 and moved to Reno, NV in 2009 to be an active part of his grandchildren's lives. Steve had an extraordinary affection and respect for all children. The world will be a much less interesting place without him.
Steve is survived by wife Phyllis (Sander) Lerman, first wife Lindsey Miller-Lerman and their two children Hannah and Jeremy Lerman, grandchildren Spencer and Piper Cook, stepsiblings Joan and Robert Winer, cousin Nancy London, and numerous nieces and nephews. Steve was preceeded in death by his brothers Martin and Roger Lerman.
Memorial donations may be made to to Apex Concerts at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Posted 7/2/23
Gordon P. Goodfellow
Gordon Goodfellow, Jr. suffered a fatal stroke on November 12, 2021 at the age of 82. The evening before he had spent doing what he loved best, dining and laughing with his family.
Gordon was born June 30, 1939 in East Orange, New Jersey to Gordon P. Goodfellow, MD and Katherine Inez Goodfellow. After his father passed away his mother remarried and the family relocated to Houston, Texas, where Gordon attended St. John's Episcopal School from which he graduated in 1957 with a strong interest in science and a fluency in German and Russian. He spent many summers at Culver Military Academy where he distinguished himself in a variety of areas including sharpshooting, swimming, tennis and sailing.
After serving as official football team water boy his freshman year at Georgia Tech (his stepfather's alma mater) Gordon decided to investigate other college options and requested an application from Princeton, which responded that it did not accept transfer students. Gordon wrote back that he had not asked to be accepted, only for an application. His perfect score of 1600 on his College Boards encouraged Princeton to relent, accepting him as the only transfer student in the class of 1961.
Following graduation from Princeton with a degree in Physics, and he ate at the Woodrow Wilson Society, he spent four years in the Army, where his linguistic gifts were quickly noted. He was sent to the Monterey, California Army Language School, where he learned to read, write, and speak Mandarin. The balance of his service was spent in Okinawa, Japan on detail to the National Security Agency.
Returning stateside, Gordon received a National Science Foundation Grant to study Hindi at the University of Texas in Austin. He took an elective economics course and found his calling in that field. While working toward his doctorate he also taught graduate level economics at the Business School. It was at U.T. where he met Ruth Elizabeth (Betsy) Maguire in September, 1970. She was a newly-arrived East Coast refugee, born, coincidentally, in Orange, New Jersey. They were married in May, 1972 and moved to Washington, where they have lived happily for nearly 50 years.
For 20 years Gordon worked as an economist with a specialty in Social Security issues in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (now Health and Human Services), and then joined Watson Wyatt Worldwide (now Willis Towers Watson) as a pension program analyst for Fortune 500 companies, retiring in 2004.
Gordon was a brilliant and complicated guy. An avid reader, he also enjoyed sailing his 27 foot C and C sailboat on the Magothy River, which he did for many years. He was liked for his gentlemanly ways by all who knew him and respected for his broad range of knowledge.
Preceded in death by his parents and his sister Nancy, he is survived by his wife Betsy Goodfellow, his two children Parker Goodfellow (Lorena), and Katherine Goodfellow (Erik Gaull), and four grandchildren, Isabella, Valentina and Gordon Parker Goodfellow IV, and Ian Gaull.
A service was held in his honor at December 11, 2021 at Potomac United Methodist Church. A reception and celebration of life followed at Lahinch Restaurant in Potomac, MD where a jazz trio played his favorites.
Posted 6/21/23
Howard J. Krongard
Cookie died on May 3, 2023, after a long and courageous battle against cancer. Born and raised in Baltimore, he came to us from Baltimore City College. At Princeton he majored in History, dined at Tiger Inn, and was a Keyceptor and in the Orange Key. He roomed with Dick Conger. And, oh yes, he played a little lacrosse. First team All-American, with much more to follow.
After a J.D. at Harvard and studying at Cambridge University in International Law, Cookie’s legal career was spent with two law firms (Cravath Swain and Moore, and Freshfields) and two international accounting firms (Peat Marwick and Deloitte). Then followed two years as the Inspector General of the Department of State under Secretary Condoleezza Rice, and in several other public service positions of leadership.
Cookie’s career in lacrosse was no less stellar. He was a superstar whose competitive life continued into his late seventies. Not for nothing was he a shoo-in for the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1985 and three other regional Halls. He was 1961’s president for five years and served the class and the University in many other ways. This short memorial does not do justice to a truly remarkable life.
Cookie is survived by his son Ken, his daughter Mara Lynn Shrek, and three grandsons.
Cookie's Celebration of Life was held at the University on 9/30/23. Here are a few memorabilia from his home that were collected. And here are the poignant remarks Ben Turnbull delivered at the Celebration.
And thank you to Joe McGinity for passing along this message from his children with a link to a video of the service: "Thank you to everyone who made it to Princeton this past weekend. Family and friends agreed it was a big success, and Dad would have been pleased. If you didn’t get a chance to see it, it is now available here."
To start, I want to say hello to all that I haven’t seen is so long and how honored I am to be designated by Cookie to speak to this gathering.
Cookie first came into my life our Freshman Year here at Princeton. Of course, it was lacrosse that brought us together on the Freshman team. I was one of “his” defensemen. It was special. But it was over the past 30 years that made us the best of friends. I want to focus on wo aspects of Cookie’s remarkable being that I came to know very well during this time.
First. Friendship Despite all his amazing characteristics, the one that is so special to me, and I am sure others here as well, was his unconditional love and loyalty that he gave to those lucky enough to be considered his friend. It helped the strength of our relationship that our paths during those years were remarkably intertwined. I left the beaten path of American commercial banking and spent almost twenty years working in countries of particular interest in the post Soviet era - Poland, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Iraq to hit the highlights. At the same time Cookie was giving his talents to the State Department as Inspector General and to American investors’ interest in China and elsewhere. Cookie was always supportive. He wrote the most important letters of recommendations for me and coordinated introductions that made my work easier. His “contacts” were ready to help because they thought so highly of him and his own achievements. The Embassies in Kabul and Bagdad were two places that knew him well and always had their doors open. We also shared South Florida. On countless fishing trips to Florida Bay and Everglades National Park Cookie showed his constant and never failing delight with adventure and Nature. His friendship was based on trust and he never questioned the twists and turns Capt. Ben made on his boat in that totally wild place. He even thought bringing his 10 year old grandson along was a good idea. What a wonderful gift for both Jake and me. Now Cookie’s smile is gone but it still shines for me when the magnificent fisherman Jake has grown to be tells me of his latest stupendous catch or shares some time in my Fisherman’s Paradise.
Second. Strength. Cancer has ravaged my family. Father, Mother, Brother, Brother-in-Law, Cousins have all suffered death from this evil disease. So I have witnessed up close and personal how it works. Cookie’s long fight to make the most of his life during the many years he battled this opponent may be his finest win. He never let its relentless, malevolent force overcome him. Linda Winn, Sam Winn and I visited him during the last days of his struggle. Almost everything was gone except his unconquerable spirit and desire to reach out to his friends. We left that afternoon with the image of a life lived with the most marvelous strength and good will. Cookie caught so many hard shots during his game of life with joy and then went on to win and win again.
So Rest In Peace dear friend.
Our 62nd Reunion
Our Class dinner at the Nassau Club was preceded by our annual class meeting run by President Peter Pettibone, withreports from Secretary George Brakeley, Treasurer pro temEllen Boer, Reunion Treasurer Mike Horn, Caring Committee Chair Bob Pickens, Class Foundation Trustee Jim Blair, anda written report on AG from Class Co-Agent Rob Walker. There were two important additions to the class leadership team: Bob Pickens was elected to serve as Vice President and Ellen Boer as Treasurer, in both cases succeeding the late Peter Boer. In addition Ellen was elected an Honorary Classmate.
Also in attendance: Tony Atkiss, Len Berton, Susan Blair, Lee Blyler and daughter Allison ‘88, Honorary Classmate Jerry Ford ’54 (designer of our award-winning blazer), and Pat and Jon Hlafter. Also, Gerri Horn, Suzanne and Justin Kimball, Jean Pettibone, Mary Pickens, Art Smith, Will Somers, Martha and Jim Wickenden, and Carol Wojciechowicz.
After dinner we enjoyed a delightful concert by the accapella women's singing group, the "Tigressions", led by Bob Pickens's granddaughter.
On Saturday we were joined by Charlie Rippin,John Cooper, and Tony Prather *98, for the P-rade, with Andy Frisbie ’00 and Margie Jaeger ’98 (Jim Todd’s daughter) stopping by to say hello. See pix on the web site here.
Posted 6/5/23
George P. Landow
We lost George on May 31, 2023.
George came to Princeton from the Wooster School, where he played football. At Princeton he played 150-lb football his first two years, lacrosse freshman year, and served as wrestling manager for three.He ate at Wilson Lodge, and his senior roommate was Doug Greer.
He arrived as an English major pre-med, gained admission to medical school, but Prof. Landa persuaded him to apply for a Woodrow Wilson at Brandeis after which he returned to Old Nassau, writing a dissertation on Ruskin that led to a prize-winning book.
He taught at Columbia, Chicago, Brown, and Brasenose College, Oxford. His books, several of which were translated into Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic, ranged from Victorian literature and art to computing. His academic honors include two Guggenheims, a graduate student Fulbright, two senior Fulbrights and a fellowship at Cornell’s Society for the Humanities. At age 58 he was invited to Singapore as the founding dean of the University Scholars Program (1999-2003).
His devoted his spare time to photography, model railroading, and coaching Little League baseball and soccer.
He is survived by Ruth, his beloved wife of 57 years, his daughter Shoshana ’91, her husband Ethan ’90, and their boys Philip and Malcolm, his son Noah Landow and his wife CJ.
Cheers to ’61!!!!
Posted 6/3/23
Dear Princeton Football Family,
We are excited to announce that Jim Blair '61 will be honored as the Princeton recipient at the 2023 Ivy Football Association (IFA) Dinner on Thursday, February 2nd. Jim's lifetime accomplishments, football skills and commitment to Princeton Football have been exceptional, and this honor is well-deserved! To read more about Jim's achievements, click here.
On February 2nd, we will gather at 5:00 p.m. to begin the festivities with a Princeton Football Association reception prior to the dinner. To view details and register for the IFA event, click here.
IVY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION DINNER
Thursday, February 2nd, 2023
Featuring Chris Berman (Brown '77) and Jack Ford (Yale '72)
The New York Marriott Marquis (1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 | Broadway Ballroom, 6th floor) Hotel Room Block: A limited number of rooms are available at the Marriott Marquis. To view the details and reserve your room, click here.
For those who are unfamiliar with the IFA Dinner, please see the videofrom the 2019 celebration as we honored Jason Garrett '89.
DISCLAIMER: This page was created by and for the Class of 1961. Information on this page is intended for individual communication of a personal nature among Princetonians. Use of this information for any other purpose is strictly prohibited. The Class of 1961 is solely responsible for the content on this page. Although we make every effort to keep this information accurate, we cannot guarantee it.
Joseph E. Prather
He was 
Jeffrey W. Morgan
Richard T. Niner
Ronald E. Goldman
Sent to the Class Secretary:
From Class Treasurer and Honorary Class Member Ellen Boer to the Class Secretary:
Sent to Class Secretary:
George Brakeley (on right) with Lance Odden. 
Mason Ferry
Steven Schaefer and I met up for a mini-reunion in July in Columbia, SC. Steven is on another of his long distance trips across three continents. It was fun catching up.
Stephen J. Lerman
