In Memoriam

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Howard Francis Taylor

Courtesy Department of Sociology/Princeton University

Howard Francis Taylor, a scholar of race, class, and gender who led Princeton’s Program in African American Studies, died March 21 at his home on Martha’s Vineyard. He was 83. Taylor joined the sociology faculty in 1973 and directed what was then known as Afro-American studies, bringing stability to the fledgling certificate program. He remained at the helm until 1988 and eventually retired from the University in 2007, a year after Princeton launched the Center for African American Studies and kicked off an expansion of its faculty in the field. As a mentor and adviser, Taylor played a “central role” in the lives of many Black students, according to a 2007 biography published by the Office of the Dean of the Faculty.

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Robert Van Vranken Jr.

Courtesy Van Vranken family

Robert Van Vranken Jr., a longtime Annual Giving administrator and honorary member of eight Princeton classes, died April 4 at age 87. Van Vranken, whose combined full-time service to the University covered 30 years, came to Princeton in 1966 and worked in the offices of the registrar and admission before joining the Annual Giving staff. Following his retirement as associate director
of Annual Giving, he returned in a part-time capacity from 2002 to 2011.