Our classmate Peter Curtin died Oct. 10, 2009, while running in the Baltimore marathon. He was a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at MIT, where he was awarded the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship.

Peter’s Princeton professors remember him as one of the smartest, most thoughtful, and humble students they ever had taught. He received various awards for his work in the chemistry department and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also was Princeton’s first undergraduate chemistry student to be lead author of a paper, based on his thesis, that was published in Inorganic Chemistry Journal.  

Peter’s friends remember him as the always-loyal, upbeat, and caring “Dapper.” He played goalie for the men’s club lacrosse team and was a member of Tiger Inn.  

He is survived by his parents, Michael and Anne; his brother, Matthew; and his sister, Alison. His father said, “Beyond Peter’s many outstanding achievements, what we will remember most is what a wonderful, funny, thoughtful, and caring person Peter was.”  

Peter’s family has established a memorial fund in his name to support other chemistry students. Checks can be made to “Princeton University” with the note “Peter N. Curtin, Class of 2008 Memorial Fund” and mailed to Helen Hardy, Princeton University, Alumni and Donor Relations, P.O. Box 5357, Princeton, NJ 08543.

Undergraduate Class of 2008