David Greatorex Powell ’54

David died Jan. 28, 2025.

He prepared at South Kent School and was active in football, crew, and student government.

At Princeton, he majored in the Special Program in European Civilization and the Modern Languages Department, joined Dial Lodge, participated in crew all four years, and graduated cum laude.

David was captain of the 150-pound crew, which, after winning all U.S. races, competed at the Henley Royal Regatta, breaking the course record in the semifinals before losing to the Royal Air Force.

David married Joan Van Nostrand Hitch during two years of service in the U.S. Army. He then began his career with Standard Oil and its successors — Esso, Exxon — and Exxon Chemical, with assignments in New York City, Toronto, Rio, Buenos Aires, London, and Madrid. In 1980, he was recruited by Allied Signal/Honeywell, where he remained until retirement in 1995. He then devoted himself to community service as chairman of the board of trustees for the Morristown Hospital’s Foundation, trustee for Centenary College, and on the board of the Morristown, N.J., Seeing Eye. Passionate about geriatric medicine, he and Joan established the David and Joan Powell Center for Healthy Aging at the Morristown Medical Center.

David’s wife Joan predeceased him on October 12, 2024. He is survived by their daughters Katherine, Clare, and Elizabeth; three grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and David’s brother Evan Rhys Powell.