David Andrew Rothrock III ’64

Drew died June 8, 2025, at home in Seattle.  

Born in Philadelphia, he attended Episcopal Academy. His interests were science and classical music, and he was organist for the daily chapel service.  

He was attracted to Princeton by its academic/engineering strength and University organist, Bach specialist Carl Weinrich. Drew sang in the Chapel Choir and was the designated substitute organist/choirmaster for Weinrich. His Epilogues (evening “quiet” organ music in the Chapel) included the legendary “dial-a-hymn” service. 

He took his meals at Campus Club and secured a mechanical engineering degree with highest honors and was awarded the Howard N. Samuel Prize. He completed his doctoral degree at Cambridge University through an NSF Fellowship. He married Joan in 1966, and, while abroad, they explored many European and Mideast destinations and later especially enjoyed many summers on their property in Vaison-la-Romaine. 

Drew accepted a position at the University of Washington in 1970 with the Arctic Ice Dynamics Joint Experiment. He did polar ice research and climatology at the UW Applied Physics Lab and at IFREMER in Brest, France, including publications drawing international attention.  

He continued his musical activities, learning to play cello for quartets with friends and playing in the Thalia Symphony. 

Drew is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter Averil; son Kevin; four grandchildren; his brother, Ron; and sister Joan.