Memorials - April 21, 1999
Ernest S. Burch '37
Outstanding citizen, ardent pilot until age 70, skier until age 80, and attorney, Ernie Burch died Feb. 2, 1999, of leukemia and related health problems. He left Elsie, his wife of 61 years, sons Tiger '60 (our class boy) and John, and eight grandchildren.
At The Hill, Ernie was on the track and wrestling teams and the publication board. He majored in politics at Princeton, graduated with honors, and was business manager of the Daily Princetonian and president of Charter Club.
He wrote for our 50th Yearbook, "Law Bureau, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Navy 1942-45, law partner 1945-79," but his accomplishments would cover pages here. He helped organize the Civil Air Patrol and flew fighter planes from New Jersey to the west coast. He managed Robinwood Farm, thriving with Aberdeen Angus. He helped start the Pennsylvania Livestock Show and was secretary of the Aberdeen Angus Breeders Assn. He was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Sportsmen & Outdoor Living Show, vice-chairman of the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce, president of the Church Council of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Camp Hill, treasurer of the Pennsylvania Region Red Cross, and president of the board of trustees of Harrisburg Academy. We have lost a wonderful citizen.
The Class of 1937
John M. Steinsieck '37
Ardent reuner Stiny Steinsieck (also known as Chip) died Nov. 15, 1998. His wife of 59 years, Frances, daughters Joan and Betty, son Bill, and seven grandchildren survive him.
At Peddie, Stiny was into track, publications, and dramatics, graduating cum laude. At Princeton, he majored in mechanical engineering and was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Princeton Engineering Society, and Court.
He started as assistant boiler room engineer with the Public Service Electric & Gas Co. in Burlington, N.J. By 1952 he advanced to test engineer and by 1960 to chief engineer in the Burlington Generating Station. He spent over 40 years in the electric generating department, retiring as manager of the Mercer Generating Station in Trenton.
He did his bit for every community in which he lived, serving six years on the Delanco School Board (two as president), two years as a Sunday school teacher, as vicechairman of the Delaware District Burlington County Council of Boy Scouts, and in various positions at three local Presbyterian churches. He enjoyed playing golf, wood carving, and traveling, "in that order."
The Class of 1937
M. Callear Traver '38
Cal died Jan. 14, 1999, in Yardley, Pa., after a long illness. He was born in Trenton, N.J., and graduated from the Hun School. At Princeton, Cal played the trumpet in both the marching band and the Triangle Club. He belonged to Arbor Inn.
After graduation Cal became a pilot for Capital Airlines. As a member of the Air Force Reserve he flew 123 combat missions in the Asiatic Pacific theater during WWII. He won the Air Medal, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Presidential Citation. During the Berlin Airlift, he was recalled to active duty and flew many missions into that beleaguered city from 1949-51.
Cal worked for the U.S. Steel Co. as assistant superintendent in their Fairless Works in Pennsylvania until his retirement. He was a lifelong avid golfer and served as a member of the board of directors of the Trenton Country Club.
He is survived by a son and daughter, six grandchildren, and his sister, Virginia Traver Stevens, to all of whom the class extends its deepest sympathy.
The Class of 1938
Archibald Willard Leonard '39
Archie died Dec. 23, 1998, in Beaufort, S.C., where he and Ann had recently settled after many years in Florida, site of Archie's business in Miami. They moved first to Stuart for seven years and then on to Beaufort, putting them many hours closer to the home they really loved, where they always spent their summers, in Cashiers, N.C.
As an ensign (USNR) Archie spent the war years flying the San FranciscoHonolulu run for the Navy Air Transport Service. In 1946 he joined the San Francisco office of Pan American World Airways as manager of scheduling, later moving to NYC, where he became director of Pan Am's reservations control system and finally regional v.p. of Florida and the Caribbean. All this experience he eventually put to good use when he struck out on his own, setting up New Dimensions Travel, his agency in Miami. He also used his expertise for the benefit of our class when he acted as majordomo for our memorable class trip to Russia in June 1969.
Ann Morrison and Archie were married in Short Hills, N.J., in 1947. With Ann, their son Gilbert, daughters Susan and Sarah, and five grandchildren, we happily recall the good times with Archie and give thanks for the life he shared with us.
The Class of 1939
William Melvin Davidson '40 *41
Bill Davidson died Dec. 21, 1998, after a prolonged illness. Margaret and Bob Goheen, Yick Kuwayama, and Buz Bedford '39 were among those attending his memorial service. Bill prepared at Montclair H.S. and at Princeton played soccer for four years, majored in engineering, and was president of the Princeton chapter of the American Electrical Engineering Institute and a member of Quadrangle Club. His junior- and senior-year roommates were Bob Goheen and Don Platten. Bill earned an MSEE from Princeton and a PhD from the U. of Pittsburgh.
Bill was an individual of unusual talents and diverse interests -- an inventor; a rocket scientist with Thioko Chemical; developer of undersea recovery systems for Proteus Inc.; and an electrical engineer for Westinghouse. Also he was a carpenter, mason, mechanic, fixer, Mountain Lakes [N.J.] borough councilman, and Rotarian. Bill was active in the Mountain Lakes Community Church, served on neighborhood boards, and devoted his time to helping the less fortunate. Golf and sailing were hobbies, and he held a number of sailing championships in his age group, including a first place in the Senior Olympics.
Bill is survived by three sons, two daughters, and 10 grandchildren. '40 extends its deepest sympathy to the entire family and will treasure the memory and friendship of this low-key, caring, multi-talented classmate.
The Class of 1940
Richard Armacost Hess '42
Dick died Nov. 28, 1998, at home, in Easton, Md. He devoted his entire career to life insurance, remaining as a consultant to the firm he founded in 1972 until the time of his death.
Having prepared at Gilman, Dick left Princeton in 1941 to join the Army, serving as a chief warrant officer in reconnaissance in the American, European, and Pacific theaters from 1942-46. He attended Oberlin College after the war, earning a degree in economics. He worked for Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. as director of field service until 1963, when he left to join Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Philadelphia. In 1970 he became president and CEO of U.S. Life Insurance Co. of the State of New York, resigning in 1972 to found Special Pooled Risk Administrators, Inc., a reinsurance company, in Summit, N.J., which he sold in 1985. Retiring to Easton, Md., he was active as treasurer of the Academy of Arts.
The class extends its sympathies to his widow, Patricia; to his daughter, Abigail; and to his granddaughter, Victoria.
The Class of 1942
J. Christy Wilson Jr. '44
Six months after lung cancer diagnosis, Christy departed this life Feb. 8, 1999, to join his maker. In our 50th Yearbook, this devout man who dedicated his life to Christianity wrote, "Serving my Lord Jesus Christ has been a great joy," and so it was for him and those he served.
Born of missionary parents in Iran, Christy came to Princeton as Lawrenceville's valedictorian and was a distance runner in cross country and captain of varsity track at Princeton. After Princeton Theological Seminary and a PhD in Islamic studies at Edinburgh, Scotland, he went to Afghanistan, where for 22 years he taught English in public schools, tutored the crown prince, was chaplain for the foreign community, and built the first Christian church after a personal assist from President Eisenhower. He then spent time at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in S. Hamilton, Mass., and returned on several occasions to help Afghan refugees. After 18 more years at Gordon-Conwell as professor of world evangelization, he retired in 1992 to Duarte, Calif., where he died.
To his wife, Betty Jean, his children Nancy, Christy III, and Martin, and to his 11 grandchildren, we share in your loss and shall miss this dedicated man who also served as our first class secretary. God bless, Christy.
The Class of 1944
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