Memorials - March 24, 1999
Curtin Winsor '27
Curtin Winsor of Ardmore, Pa., the secretary of the Class of '27, died Nov. 12, 1998. He was 92.
At Princeton, he was a member of the editorial board of the Daily Princetonian and of Quadrangle Club. Majoring in political science, he went on to the U. of Pennsylvania Law School, from which he graduated in 1930.
After practicing law for several years, Curt moved to Washington, D.C., to serve in the Natl. Recovery Administration. Returning to Pennsylvania, he graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in composition and criticism in 1942. Intending to write music criticism, he found that career interrupted as he joined the war effort in 1942. He served as a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve. In 1949, he founded American Competitive Enterprise System (ACES) in Pennsylvania, a nonprofit economic education organization. Retiring from ACES in 1969, he became one of the founders and president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Curt was a director of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1939-85, when he became a director emeritus. An avid and lifelong fly fisherman, Curt wrote articles on fly fishing for numerous sporting magazines.
The class extends its sympathy to his wife, Eleanor, children Curtin Jr., Karin King, John Holmberg, Linda Edson, and Ellen, and 11 grandchildren.
The Class of 1927
Percy Rivington Pyne III '37
Enthusiastic Princetonian, champion golfer, and ex-township committeeman, pharmaceutical salesman Percy Pyne died Jan. 11, 1999, after several years of medical problems. His wife of 55 years, Evelyn, sons John, Percy, Robert, and Benjamin '81, and eight grandchildren survive. Percy's Princeton connections trace back to Moses Taylor Pyne 1877 and a Stockton descendant. In 1959, Percy was on the $53-million special gifts committee and in 1960 came the longest distance to a class dinner.
Percy prepared at Groton. At Princeton, he majored in chemistry; as a freshman played football, baseball, and hockey; and joined Ivy.
Percy worked with M.W. Kellogg Co. on oil refinery jobs but joined the Marines in 1943, with fighter direction in the Admiralty Islands and Zamboanga. Discharged in 1946, he joined American Cyanamid, handling chemical sales in the eastern seaboard states. From 1958-78, he was with Ganes Chemical Works as sales manager and v.p., selling bulk chemicals and plastic containers. He ended his career with J.W. Dillon, real estate, in 1979.
The Class of 1937
H. Thomas Koch '47
Tom died Jan. 7, 1999, in Lehigh Valley [Pa.] Hospital after a heart attack.
He was born and raised in Allentown, Pa., and graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 1944. After serving in the Navy for two years Tom re-entered Princeton and earned his degree in 1949. An economics major, he was a member of Cloister Inn. After graduation he did postgraduate work in retailing at New York U.
Tom spent his entire career as a partner in H. Leh & Co., a leading Allentown department store. He was involved in the operations and financial side of the business. Active in community affairs, he was a director of Merchants Bank, now First Union, and chairman of the executive committee from 198385. Tom was a director of the Lehigh Valley Hospital and president of its fundraising drive. He was a member of the Jordan Lutheran Church in Orefield, Pa.
The class extends its deepest sympathies to Jane, his wife of 40 years; his daughter Louise Molzahn; sons T. James and Dr. Henry T. III; sister Sallie Schaeffer; and two grandchildren.
The Class of 1947
James Millar '47
Jim died Oct. 20, 1998, in Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio, after a serious stroke.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, he graduated from Stoney Brook School. Jim entered Princeton in Sept. 1944 and left after one year to attend the Bible Institute of Pennsylvania and New York and theological seminary in the Reform Episcopal Church.
For many years he had been the rector of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Massillon, Ohio. Jim had served previously at Grace Church in Clyde, Ohio, and St. Paul Episcopal in Bellevue, Ohio. After his stint in the ministry he joined Alcoholics Anonymous, where he found a new pulpit and congregation which he served until his death. Although Jim's time spent at Princeton was short, he was proud of the experience.
The class extends its deepest sympathies to his wife, Dorothy; daughter Janet; sons James '67 and Glenn; sister Rene Ryan; and four grandchildren.
The Class of 1947
John Pershing '47
John Pershing died Dec. 22, 1998, after a long battle with cancer.
He prepared at Deerfield Academy and entered Princeton in July 1943. He roomed with Bill Jackson in 4A Holder, John's father's room. Princeton was interrupted by three Army years in New Guinea and the Philippines. Back on campus, he roomed with Frank Henry, joined Cottage Club, and graduated summa cum laude in 1949. He graduated from Harvard Law in 1953.
For most of his career he worked as a development officer for Chase Manhattan Bank. He and his wife, Pat Warren, raised their five children in Yardley, Pa., with long stints in Saudi Arabia, London, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica.
In 1990, John moved to Orleans, Mass., where he was active in community development work and with the Unitarian Church in establishing a home for recovering alcoholics. Always interested in class affairs, John served on the executive committee (196467) and was class treasurer (198792).
He leaves his children, Megan Nielson, Amy Schwartz, John III, Timothy, and Daniel; his sister Pamela Herrick; his brother Hugh; and eight grandchildren. The class extends its deepest sympathy to the entire family on the loss of a talented classmate and longtime friend.
The Class of 1947
Samuel Carlton Gwynne Jr. '52
Sam Gwynne, who helped set the standard for service to our class, died July 20, 1998, from insulin shock, at his home in Menauhant, Cape Cod. Classmates Joe Bolster, Hoby Kreitler, John Emery, Bruce Johnson, and Brantz Bryan attended his memorial service at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.
By his description, Sam's "Route 52" was a three-laner, a route he traveled in fast-forward: for family, Princeton, and the Episcopal Church. Cited for his service to '52 and Princeton at the 40th, Sam was a class officer, archivist, editor of the 25th and 30th Reunion Yearbooks, and chairman of the awards committee for the 30th and 35th reunions; spent 20 years on the executive committee and countless hours on regional alumni associations; and was on the Alumni Council.
Sam worked in advertising and promotion with Alcoa and Republic Foil/Natl. Aluminum. He was marketing director of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference. He served as vestryman, warden, church school teacher, deputy to conventions, and friend of Bishop James Pike. He and his wife, Nancy, sang in the Mostly Male Men's Chorus of Falmouth.
Sam is survived by Nancy; children Sam III '74, Sheryl, Deborah, Geoffrey, and Elizabeth; and nine grandchildren. With them we grieve, and give thanks for his contributions to us all.
The Class of 1952
Seth D. Montgomery '59
Seth Montgomery, former chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court, died Sept. 18, 1998, after a 27-year struggle with multiple sclerosis. A leader and a scholar, Seth was loved and admired for his kindness, his brilliance, his extraordinary comic talent, and his service to others.
Arriving in Princeton from his native Santa Fe, Seth's amazing versatility was evident from the outset. He served on the Freshman Council, turned in three years of virtuoso Triangle performances, and earned a magna cum laude degree in philosophy. A member of Campus Club, Seth served as its v.p. and bicker chairman. Following graduation, Seth saw duty as a Navy line officer for three years before entering Stanford Law School, where he became editor-in-chief of the Stanford Law Review and graduated second in his class.
Seth's talents as a lawyer were recognized by his election to both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. In 1989, he was appointed to the New Mexico Supreme Court, and in 1994 was elevated to chief justice.
Seth is survived by his wife, Peggy, three sons, Andrew '83, Charles '86, and David, three grandchildren, and two brothers. The class offers its deepest sympathy to them all. We have lost one of our best.
The Class of 1959
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