David F. Gebhard ’47 *49

Dave died Jan. 20, 2018, in Mystic, Conn. At Princeton he majored in aeronautical engineering and was a member of Dial Lodge. A private pilot since his college days, Dave flew a Piper J-5 and a Cessna 152 as a hobby for most of his life. His business career was at Grumman, and he retired in 1991. In 1985 he was designated by Grumman as Inventor of the Year. He worked on landing issues for carrier planes and had a leading role in designing the landing features of the early spacecraft.

Winter frequently found Dave and his wife, Shirley, snorkeling in St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Upon retirement, they moved to Mystic, Conn., where they could continue their love of cruising and sailing. Their three children lived nearby, so they were able to watch their four grandchildren grow.

The class sends its fond memories of this productive and avidly contributing classmate to Shirley and the children.