Donald Lapham Mygatt ’39

Don, stricken with Alzheimer's, had been in a nursing home in Bellevue, Wash. for the last two years, and died there Mar. 5, 2003. He left Princeton at the end of freshman year to become a salesman for Texaco and married Mary Olive "Winnie" Winslow in 1940. He joined the Air Force in 1942. At war's end he returned to Texaco. His grandfather, Lewis Lapham, was one of its founders. But flying was truly the centerpiece of Don's life. He had been awarded a Silver Star for bravery while flying a P38 Lightning with the 367th fighter group over Germany.

Don moved to Bellevue in 1951, and after 25 years with Texaco he chose to leave and set up his own investment firm. He told us he enjoyed those years of self-employment. "We like our way of life out here in the great Northwest, living in our waterfront home. I still own the Beechcraft Bonanza I've had for 25 years and fly it regularly." He also built and flew model seaplanes and helicopters at his home on Lake Sammamish.

To Winnie and their daughters, Suzanne and Monika, we offer our sincere sympathy.

The Class of 1939