B. Franklin Pepper ’51

Ben was born March 2, 1930, in Chestnut Hill, Pa., the son of Anna Harris and Benjamin F. Pepper ’27.

He attended the Buckley School, Chestnut Hill Academy, and St. Mark’s. At Princeton he majored in history, was a member of Cottage and Orange Key, and played rugby. He roomed with Bob Akeley, Bob Jennings, and Larry Keyes. He married Helen “Perky” Warner July 14, 1951.  

After service in the Navy, Ben joined the Central Intelligence Agency, where he spent 30 years as a case officer in the operations directorate, serving abroad in Berlin, Mexico City, and London. He worked primarily against Soviet and Eastern European targets, his particular expertise being in the field of counterintelligence. After his retirement he served on the board of directors of the Southeast Fairfax (Va.) Development Corp. in the Alexandria Route 1 corridor and on the board of United Community Ministries and other charitable organizations. He also was active in local beautification and economic-development programs.  

Ben died of cancer Oct. 31, 2011. He is survived by Perky; his son, Benjamin; daughter Holly; two granddaughters; three grandsons; and his sisters, Virginia Purviance, Rebecca Sinkler, and Tracy Marble.