Donald A. Marsden ’64

Donald died Aug. 20, 2020, at home in Hempstead, N.Y.

He came to Princeton from Amityville High School on Long Island as class president, valedictorian, and cross-country captain, turning down a West Point appointment. At Princeton he majored in English, writing a novel for his thesis. He ate at Campus and roomed with Jim Williams, Dave Isaac, Pete Miller, Bob Herbert, and Don Rosenberg.

Donald played in the marching band and joined Triangle Club, touring all four years and performing in Triangle’s 1962 USO European tour. He wrote words and music for Triangle’s 75th anniversary show, directed the orchestra, and was elected club secretary. Donald penned the club’s history, The Long Kickline (Princeton University Press, 1968), and was a Triangle trustee for decades, besides chairing the Alumni Council’s Princetoniana Committee.

Donald joined Ulano Corp. (screen-printing technology, on which he held several patents) in 1972, retiring as director of commercial relations in 90 countries. He chaired the Academy of Screen and Digital Printing Technologies. He also chaired and served as organist and choirmaster and as a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists. With his high-school sweetheart and wife, Mary Carroll, the couple restored an old church along the Delaware River as a vacation home.

Mary died in 2004, and there were no children. He leaves his and Mary’s longtime friend, Gayle Evans, who was Mary’s Smith housemate. Old friends will remember Donald’s cheerfulness, kindness, and modesty.