Mel died June 2, 2008, at his ranch near Santa Barbara, Calif., where he had lived in the later years of his long career as an actor, producer, and director in radio, television, stage, and film.

The ranch kept him conveniently close to Los Angeles production centers while he ran it as a successful agribusiness, specializing in growing lemons and avocados, marketed nationally through Sunkist and Calavo.

Mel left Princeton in our sophomore year after winning the undergraduate Playwright’s Award for his play A While to Work, produced by Theatre Intime. Our multitalented friend immediately found work as dancer, actor, and director, which finally led him to Hollywood and a series of films that soon made him a star.

When Mel married Audrey Hepburn in 1954, he already had been married three times, to Frances Pilchard, to Barbara Tripp, and again to Ms. Pilchard. He had five children including a son, Sean, with Hepburn. In 1971 he married his fourth wife, Elizabeth Soukhotine. Despite his acting success, Mel said he preferred directing — “Sitting on the sidelines trying to get the best out of other people.”

Mel is survived by Elizabeth, all his children and several grandchildren. We offer them our sincere sympathy.

The Class of 1939