February 27, 2002: Memorials
William Morris Cahn Jr.’33
Bill Cahn, a warm friend and generous Princetonian, died at his home in Purchase, N.Y., Oct. 16, 2001. He was 90. He was a graduate of Exeter Academy, and a Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton. Bill served as a major in the 94th Infantry Division during the war. He was an investment banker. Bill is survived by his wife of 66 years, Peggy, whom many of us know well. Two of his sons, Peter and Stephen, died before him. In their memory he contributed to the Princeton Scholarship Fund. Bill is also survived by Bill III, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, whom he adored. They all talk about the way he loved to tease them. He loved it when they came to visit, he would check up on their activities and watch them play. Bill and Peggy were world travelers. They traveled to every continent but Antarctica, and took voluminous pictures. He was an avid golfer. When he was not on the golf course, he was practicing his short game on the front lawn. We will certainly miss Bill in all our activities, and we send his family our deepest sympathy.
The Class of 1933
Cadwallader Benedict ’36
Ben died at age 87 in Wilmington, N.C., June 5, 2001. For most of his adult life he lived in North Carolina.
He prepared at the Loomis School. At Princeton he majored in English.
In 1941 he was elected commissioner of Health and Public Safety of Pinebluff, N.C. In 1942, he served three years in England in the Public Relations Section of the 3rd Air Division Headquarters, 8th Air Force.
After the war he returned to North Carolina and worked for weekly newspapers on editorial assignments in Sanford, Aberdeen, and Southern Pines. He was a founding member of Southern Pines and for several years a director of The Humane Society of Moore County.
In 1966 he and his wife, Mary, bought the Country Bookshop in Southern Pines. They sold it in 1984, when Ben retired.
Mary Wilson Holt-Smith Benedict, whom he married in 1943, died in 1990. He is survived by son Christopher, daughter-in-law Shannon, and granddaughters,Margaret and Katharine.
The Class of 1936
William F. Laporte ’36
Bill died at his home in NYC, Sept. 10, 2001. He was 88. At Princeton he majored in political science and was a member of Elm Club. In 1938 he received his MBA from Harvard Business School.
In 1938 he joined American Home Products Corp., where he spent his entire career. During his career, the corporation was engaged in the production and sale of household products, foods, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription drugs.
It became evident that he had excellent business skills, and he was appointed president in 1960 and chair in 1965. From 1981-86, he served as chair of the executive committee. At the time of his death, Bill was a director, emeritus, of the corporation.
He was recognized as a very astute and diligent leader who made sure that the company made excellent profits during his tenure in a competitive environment.
He also served on the boards of Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co., the B.F. Goodrich Co., American Standard Co., Inc., and the Buck Hill Falls Co.
Bill’s wife of 53 years, Ruth Hillard Laporte, died Feb. 24, 2000. He is survived by daughters Suzanne L. Westcott, Lynn A. Ducommun, and a son, William F. III, and nine grandchildren.
The Class of 1936
Willis Frederick Loeffel ’36 *37
Bill died June 19, 2001. He was 86. He prepared at Dickinson HS in Jersey City, N.J. At Princeton he received two degrees, graduating with honors with a BSE degree in chemical engineering and a master’s in 1937.
He was employed by E.I. DuPont for some 41 years and retired in 1978. Most of that time he held management positions at the Belle Plant in West Virginia. He was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He lived in Charleston for 40 years. In 1986 he moved to Marietta, Ga.
Bill married Virginia Noland in 1945. She died in 1995. Their son Samuel died in 2000.
He is survived by his daughter, Christina, and her husband, Conn Rickey, daughter-in-law Nancy Kemp Loeffel, and grandchildren William, David, Daniel, Kate, and Brendan.
The Class of 1936
Langdon Cheves Allen ’38
Lang died July 25, 2001. His home for more than 50 years was in Haverford, Pa. He was the son of Francis O. Allen Jr. MD 1896, and had Princeton forebears from 1873 through 1932. He graduated in 1933 from Woodberry Forest School, where he was active in track and wrestling and the choir. At Princeton he participated in freshman rowing and wrestling; he also belonged to Whig-Clio, Glee Club, Choir, German Club, Camera Club, Life Saving Club, Anti-War Society, and was a member of Terrace Club. Lang spent two years with the Class of ’37 but graduated in 1938 with an AB in history.
Lang began his career with the American Institute of Public Opinion, and the Corn Exchange Bank. During WWII he and Stu Aitkin ’38 were fellow air-raid wardens. Later Allen sold real estate and was an accountant. Hobbies included numismatics, travel, and singing. He participated in local Democratic politics.
In 1942 Allen married Alethea Burroughs Avery, who survives him, along with several nephews and nieces, to all of whom the class extends its sincere condolences. Lang’s brother, Francis O. Allen IV ’32 died in 1991.
The Class of 1938
Kenneth Baker Schley ’41
K.B. died Sept. 21, 2001. He had been ill and legally blind for more than 15 years. Although born in NYC, he grew up in Far Hills, N.J. He attended the Aiken Preparatory School and graduated from St. Paul’s School. At Princeton, K.B. majored in modern languages, was a member of the Ivy Club, and roomed with the large Lockhart contingent including Lanahan, Bright, Tomlinson, Ned Ross, Keep, Pitney, and Kilduff.
During WWII, K.B. served as an observation pilot for the artillery of the 28th Division from Normandy until V-E Day. At the Battle of the Bulge, he received the Silver Star for flying medicine into Bastogne at night. He was separated as captain.
After the war, he attended Rutgers to study agriculture, and subsequently bought a farm in Maryland, where he first raised and sold hunters and show horses, later going into the cattle business.
Returning to Far Hills, he became a limited partner in Moore and Schley, a former brokerage house in NYC. In 1956, he started the Far Hills Land Corp., managing the extensive Schley land holdings in the area.
K.B. is survived by his wife, Yvonne Queripel Schley; their daughters, Sally Jackson and Margot White; and two grandsons, Ian Kenneth White and Dylan White. He was predeceased by a daughter, Diana Grataloup, who died in 1978.
The Class of 1941
Ralph Thomas Clark ’47
R. T. died of bladder cancer at his home in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., on Oct. 17, 2001. He came to Princeton from Mercersburg, where he was voted “Wittiest” and “Thinks He’s Wittiest.” At Princeton he joined Charter Club and majored in history.
After graduation, R.T. worked briefly in his father’s plywood business in Jacksonville, Fla., but left to take an MA in history at the U. of Virginia. He then accepted a post at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis. There he met Ann Morton, who taught English. They were married in 1951.
R.T.’s academic career took the couple to Ft. Lauderdale, where he taught history at Broward Community College, and soon became one of the college’s most popular teachers.
For several years R.T. and Ann spent summers in Ireland in search of relief from the heat. But by the time of R.T.’s retirement in 1988, the entire Florida year had become too much for them. Looking for a cool retreat, they moved to Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
R.T. will be missed by his many friends. To Ann and to their children, Alex and Carrie, we extend our profound sympathy.
The Class of 1947
FREDERICK P. WOODRUFF ’47
Fred died Jan. 14, 2001, of a stroke. He was 75. He came to Princeton from Roselle Park HS in New Jersey. He entered Princeton in 1943 in the V-12 program and left in 1945 after completing a concentrated three-year premed program. He was then sent to Syracuse U., where he received his medical degree in 1949. Fred was recalled into naval service in 1951, and served in Japan and Okinawa during the Korean War.
He had a distinguished 43-year medical career as a radiologist at the Hunterdon Medical Center, where he founded the X-ray Technician School. For many years he was the director of radiology at the center. Under his leadership, radiology developed into a state-of-the-art imaging department. At one time, he was also on the faculty at Rutgers U. Medical School.
Fred was held in high esteem by his colleagues, one of whom wrote that he learned from Fred X-ray imaging, care of the sick, humanity, bioethics, morals, and leadership. He referred to Fred as “a doctor’s doctor.”
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Carol, a son, Frederick Jr., a daughter, Gail Valdino, and two grandsons. To them all the class extends its deepest sympathy.
The Class of 1947
David Megaw Park ’50
Dave Park died on June 3, 2001 in Charleston, S.C., after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
Dave came to Princeton from the Haverford School. He was a member of Campus Club and of the varsity fencing team, graduating with a BS in mechanical engineering.
After earning his MBA at Michigan State in 1951, Dave joined American Stores Co. (Acme Markets), and became treasurer and board member. He retired in 1964.
Following the death of his first wife (and mother of his children), Dave married Edie Davis Torrey in 1967, and they set out on what soon became their passion — their Chateau Belair Montaiguillon in the St. Emilion district of France, which they purchased in 1971. Both attended l’Université de Bordeaux to study oenology. Their fine wine that won the Medaille d’Or at the Paris Exposition graced our 25th reunion tables, leading to a photograph of Dave at the dinner in People magazine.
A threat to nationalize French vineyards prompted Dave and Edie to return to the U.S., settling first in the Portland, Ore., area, before moving to Charleston, S.C.
Our condolences are extended to Dave’s survivors: his beloved Edie and four children, Diana, Alice, Melinda, and Robert.
The Class of 1950
JOHN LYON KIDDE ’56
John died July 24, 2001, at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J. He served as a personal example of how to use business success to improve the lives of others. Having held various positions in Europe and South America with Walter Kidde, Inc., the fire-extinguisher company established by his grandfather, he founded KDM Development Corp. in Upper Montclair 13 years ago. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, he chose to serve on the boards of companies “that he felt contributed to the betterment of society: piano and organ companies, land mine detection equipment manufacturers, builders of nursing homes.” He served as trustee of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Pace U., and Stevens Institute of Technology. He was president of the US-Pakistan Economic Development Council, and also president of Reachout56.
Tom Meeker ’56 knew him as one of his first childhood friends. Others came to know him at Hotchkiss, or on the tennis court, or in squash, in courses together, or as a clubmate at Key and Seal. He was a generous, loyal, fun-loving but serious, and socially responsible classmate.
To his wife, Ruth, and children, Wilson, Andrew, Geoffrey, Roxana, Jonathan, Jeremy, and Jason, and to his five grandchildren and his sister, Katharine, the class extends its heartfelt sympathy.
The Class of 1956
JAMES L. SCHISGALL ‘56
In the PAW of Jan. 24, 2001, Bill VandenHeuvel noted that Jim Schisgall’s third illustrated children’s book would soon be published. It is not surprising that Jim turned to writing books for children. He stated in our 40th Reunion Book: “From Little League manager of my 7-year-old’s baseball team to bed-time storyteller, I find fatherhood as a 60-year-old more rewarding than anything I have experienced.”
After battling cancer for seven years, Jim died on Sept. 10, 2001. Shortly after his first operation, he wrote of his busy schedule as president and CEO of Hospitak, Inc., and visits to his factories in the Southwest and Mexico. He also wrote of his devotion to his wife, Beth, and his appreciation of her work as an elementary school teacher.
Jim prepared for Princeton at Great Neck HS in New York. In addition to studying in the Special Program in International Affairs, he participated actively in club sports and Theatre Intime. During his senior year, he roomed with Lenny Meyers and Ron Weber, fellow members of Elm Club.
Services were held on Sept. 14 at Temple Chaverin in Plainview, N.Y. To his wife and children, Stuart, Alex, and Robbie, the class extends its deepest sympathy.
The Class of 1956
Stephen John Powers ’71
Steve died Aug. 17, 2001, at Mass. General Hospital in Boston. He was 52.
Steve prepared for Princeton at Lake Forest HS outside Chicago. At Princeton, Steve majored in politics, rowed on the freshman heavyweight crew, and was president of Cannon Club.
Following Princeton, Steve earned his master’s in politics at U.C. Santa Barbara. Upon graduation, he entered Bankers Trust’s training program in NYC and became a commercial lending officer. In 1978 Steve was a founding senior manager of Bankers Trust Investment and Merchant Banking Dept., eventually becoming its co-head. In 1988, Steve started his own investment banking firm, Cronus Partners, Inc. Steve’s concentration was in the health-care field.
Steve was a staunch supporter of Princeton and the Class of ’71. Under Steve’s stewardship, ’71’s 25th-reunion year was an outstanding success, generating more than $2 million for AG and setting an attendance record for the 25th reunion weekend. Steve’s outrageous sense of humor, enthusiasm, and overall joy for life will be missed by all of his classmates.
Steve is survived by his wife, Michelle Pedon Powers, his daughter, Anne, his son, Jay, his mother, Charlene, sister Karen and brother Scott. The class extends its deepest sympathy to the family.
The Class of 1971
