February 7, 2001: Memorials


Carl Beier '40

Carl died on Jan. 24, 2000, five days before his 80th birthday. He came to Princeton at age 16 and was one of the first University Scholars. Carl was active in theater and began writing poetry, which he continued for most of his life. Following graduation, Carl became one of the first directors at CBS television. During WWII, he served in the AAF, producing and directing pilot-training films. After the war, he wrote, produced, and directed radio and TV programs in New York, including an award-winning documentary on atomic power. He was particularly proud of his success in reestablishing the careers of blacklisted artists. He taught acting for the American Theater Wing, coached actors and singers, and directed live theater.

In 1966, he moved to the Berkshires to create an arts program for Simon's Rock, a junior college. He later became first head of the arts division at Kirkland College in Clinton, N.Y., where he lived until his death. Carl returned to Princeton to read his poetry at a University Chapel service and an Alumni College. He leaves his wife, Jane, his sister, Charlotte, daughters Juliet '75, Miranda, and Liane, and grandson Christopher McLoughlin.

The Class of 1940


Donald A. Cleaves '41

Don, one of our most loyal classmates, died on Oct. 31, just 10 days after attending the Harvard game with his son, Gerard '76.

Don came to Princeton from Montclair [N.J.] H.S., majored in modern languages, roomed with Bill Marlow, and joined Gateway Club.

Going directly into the Coast Guard after graduation, he was assigned to the Coast Guard supply depot in Brooklyn and left as a chief petty officer.

After WWII, Don spent five years teaching in public and private schools, then 10 years in the insurance business before returning to his first love, teaching. He retired from Point Pleasant [N.J.] H.S. in 1985 but continued teaching and taking students on tours through Germany for the Central Jersey Christian School, Asbury Park, N.J.

Very active in the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Assn., he moved there 15 years ago.

Predeceased by his wife, Cathlene Valk, Don is survived by his sons, Donald W., Gerard W. *76, and David J. '78, two sisters, Charlotte Cole and Barbara Hegge, as well as five grandchildren.

The Class of 1941


Richard Hallenbeck Eastman '41

Prof. Richard Eastman died at his home on May 29 surrounded by his family. Son of Ford Eastman 1901, he was born and raised in Erie, Pa.

At Princeton, Dick majored in chemistry, was a junior Phi Beta Kappa, No-Course Plan, Sigma Xi, and graduated with highest honors. He roomed variously with Bartlett, Barr, and Edmonds, and was a member of Elm.

Earning his PhD at Harvard in 1944, he joined the Stanford U. faculty in 1946 and became a professor in 1959, retiring emeritus in 1982. He loved teaching but also published over 40 articles in scientific literature as well as two textbooks.

He and his wife, Patty, traveled extensively around the country in their RV, trailing their boat behind. He is survived by his three sons, Jeff, Richard, and Thomas, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

The Class of 1941


John Moffat '41

John died June 19. A Hill School graduate with an illustrious Princeton heritage: father, Class of '13; grandfather, Class of 1875; great-grandfather, Class of 1835; a great-uncle, Class of 1883, who was inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame.

With his first wife, Lovice Whitall, he settled in Cooperstown. Then, after a second marriage to equestrian champion Elaine Moore, he devoted himself to his lifelong love of horses, establishing the Cooperstown Stables, a thoroughbred breeding and showing farm.

In 1968, he became director of riding at Mount Holyoke, developing one of the top collegiate riding programs before he retired in 1984.

John's equestrian career included studies at the Fulmer School of Horsemanship in England and the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. He was a licensed and recognized judge by the American Horse Shows Assn. in hunters, jumpers, and hunt-seat equitation, and became one of the most distinguished members of the Professional Horsemen's Assn.

Surviving are his wife, Elaine Moore Moffat, his first wife, Lovice Quigley, two sons, James and Michael, two daughters, Sarah and Pamela, nine grandchildren, one great-grandson, and his cousin, Ted Fuller '41.

The Class of 1941


Edward Joseph Posselius Jr. '41 *42

Ed died Nov. 19 at his home in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

Coming from the U. of Detroit H.S., he majored in chemical engineering at Princeton, achieving Phi Beta Kappa and graduating with honors in 1942. Ed was a member of Campus Club, serving as secy.-treas.

After school, Poss joined Standard Oil but left in the late 1940s to join the family business, the Good Housekeeping shops, where as chief executive he expanded the firm to 32 shops before liquidating it in 1996.

An avid pianist, Ed was active in a contemporary music group at St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms until just a few months before his death.

He was predeceased by his wife, Doris Church, but is survived by his children, a son, Edward III, his two daughters, Christy Lawrence and Tricia Mooney, as well as two grandchildren.

The Class of 1941

Samuel Howell Zeigler '41

We have just learned that Sam died Apr. 8, 2000, in Edinburgh, Scotland, after a long illness.

A graduate of the Haverford School, he majored in the school of public and international affairs at Princeton, winning the summer scholarship award.

He left Princeton at the end of junior year for work experience at Consolidated Aircraft, remaining in the industry from 1941-45 as a naval inspector. In 1945, he was posted to the naval school of international languages, Boulder, Colo., where he completed his study of Russian.

Sam returned to Princeton in 1946 and received his degree the following year. Employed for 35 years by the Natl. Security Agency, he retired in 1978 to Scotland.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joanna Gregory Zeigler, two sons, Gregory and Conway, and a daughter, Marya Anne.

The Class of 1941


LEONARD H. BERNHEIM JR. '59

Len died in New York on Sept. 19, 2000, of pancreatic cancer.

Len prepared for Princeton at Lawrenceville. A member of the freshman crew and later varsity coxswain, Len belonged to Charter Club.

Following graduation, Len served in the Army, then took a position with Stern, Lauer & Co., a family brokerage firm, while attending NYU business school. Becoming a partner with Stern, Lauer in 1965, he ran the firm with his brother, Charles '57, until it was dissolved in 1978. He then joined Bear, Stearns & Co. and remained active as a managing director until he died.

Leonard was deeply involved in philanthropic and community activities, serving as v.p. and on numerous committees of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services. He was a trustee and member of the executive committee of the UJA/Federation, pres. of the board of the Lexington School for the Deaf, and member of a visiting committee to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Stephanie, his daughters, Claudia and Erica, and his brother, Charles. To them the class extends its heartfelt sympathies; to Leonard's memory, it extends its gratitude for the time and the resources he so unselfishly dedicated to Princeton.

The Class of 1959


Graduate Alumni

Frederic Mather Lord *51, Psychology, Feb. 5, 2000

Albert Howard Clark *69, Physics, Feb. 5, 2000

Wilfred Cantwell Smith *48, Oriental Languages & Literature, Feb. 7, 2000

Robert Eugene Basye *31, Mathematics, Feb. 9, 2000

Daniel Noyes Hall *64, Chemistry, Feb. 15, 2000

Philip Elwyn Arsenault *59, Romance Languages & Literature, Feb. 16, 2000