E. Peter Gillette Jr. ’56

Peter died July 30, 2024, at his home in Minneapolis.

He came to Princeton on an NROTC scholarship, joined Cap and Gown, played varsity ice hockey, and majored in history. Upon graduation he was commissioned in the Marine Corps, serving in Asia and in the Reserve before retiring as a major. He joined Northwestern National Bank, studied law at night, and was admitted to the bar in 1963. He attended Harvard Business School as a Bush fellow and in 1980 was elected CEO of the bank. He later served as commissioner of trade and economic development for Minnesota.

Peter was just as active in educational and charitable affairs, raising funds for the United Way, Walker Art Center, and the Minnesota Orchestra while serving as a trustee of the Blake School, Macalester College, and the Marine Corps University Foundation. In 1982, he was elected a Princeton trustee. In his private time, he enjoyed tennis, golf, bridge, and running — completing a marathon in 1988.

Peter is survived by his wife of 63 years, Julia Scotty; daughters Julie ’84 and her husband Tommy Johns ’84, Annie and her husband Fritz Cleveland, and Rebecca and her husband Darryl Sellers; and six grandchildren, including Anna Johns ’25.