Dey Wadsworth Watts ’44

Dey died Feb. 14, 2009, in Glenview, Ill. He was 86. 

Dey loved and respected the law and had a 34-year law career, concluding as managing partner in the Chicago firm of Chapman & Cutler, which was his father’s firm, too. 

Born in Chicago, he was a lifelong resident of Glencoe, Ill. At Princeton, he majored in politics, was on the 150-pound crew and The Daily Princetonian’s editorial board, served as managing editor of the Bric-a-Brac and co-chairman of the Nassau Herald, and belonged to Whig-Clio and Charter Club. His roommates included Art Van Horne and Keehn Landis. 

During World War II, Dey served as battery commander with the 477th Field Artillery Observation Battalion and was a senior officer on Hilo, Hawaii, when a tsunami struck, killing 159 people. Dey declared martial law and directed the initial rescue efforts. 

After graduating from Princeton in 1947, he earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1949. Faithful to church and civic affairs, he mostly let Faith, his wife of 57 years, serve as our correspondent. She died in 2004. 

Dey is survived by four sons, Bill, Whit, John, and Judd; a daughter Merideth; and nine grandchildren. To them all, we extend our sincere condolences.