Boomslang V. Meade ’58

Vin, who changed his first name to Boomslang in 1990, died of a heart attack June 22, 2016, in Hillsboro Pines, Fla.

He came to Princeton from Newton High School and the Taft School. Vin majored in politics. He was a member of Elm Club and Whig-Clio, and was a Keyceptor and a Campus Fund Drive dorm captain. His senior year roommates were Jeff Bomer, Peter Edgar, Doug Ellis, Peter Gall, Fred Matter, John Miller, and Bert Sparrow.

After college, Boomslang was in the Marines from 1960 to 1963. He graduated from Boston University School of Law in 1965 and soon after moved to Florida, where he was a member of the Florida bar for more than 50 years. He did a lot of environmental studies work and was also certified in geographic information systems. He had several papers published on that subject.

His real passion and what seemed to impact the world the most was his music, which was environmentally centered. His band, Peters Road Swamp Blues Band, has performed at the Florida Folk Festival for 20 years. His audiences got not only environmental lessons and Florida history lessons, but also not-so-reverent songs with a message- — for example, “Everglades Drainage Blues.”

At his funeral, the Marines provided a color guard, played “Taps,” and presented the folded flag to Barbara, his wife of 37 years. To her, the class extends its condolences.