Louis Gillespie Erskine ’44

Following a stroke and pneumonia, Gil died Sept. 2, 2017, at his son’s home in Dallas, Texas.

After attending the Hackley and Salisbury schools, at Princeton he majored in French, ran cross-country, and was in Elm Club. He left Princeton in June 1942 to become a glider pilot in the Air Corps. He crash-landed his glider during the invasion of France and was temporarily captured by the Germans, later receiving six battle stars.

After NYU Law School, he lived in Scarsdale, N.Y., and had a career with the Pentegra Group, a retirement fund. He was chairman of many nonprofit organizations, including Good Government League of Eastchester and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program in White Plains, N.Y. He believed service to his country was a high priority.

His adult life was dedicated to exercise, which included football, baseball, and jogging and walking constantly thereafter. He founded Hike for Churches, a 10-mile walk up the Bronx River Parkway, and the Westchester Triathlon. He walked and swam frequently.

He touched many lives and was admired by many. He is survived by children Terry, Birks, and Gip; three granddaughters; and his ex-wife, Zilpha.