He prepared at Horace Mann School in New York City. At Princeton El majored in chemical engineering. He played interclub basketball and baseball and was a member of Charter Club. In 1942 he earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Princeton.
During World War II he served a tour of duty in the Pacific as an ensign aboard an attack transport. He went on inactive status in 1946 as a lieutenant, junior grade.
El spent his career as a chemical engineer and in management with DuPont in Delaware and Texas. After his career at DuPont he pursued his passion for investing.
In 1957 he married Sally Ann Williams, the love of his life. They enjoyed many happy summers sailing on Chesapeake Bay and winters in Vero Beach, Fla. He was devoted to his wife and family.
El was survived by Sally; sons Charles, Peter, Fred, and David; sister Edith McGeer; nephews Tad McGeer *79 and Rick McGeer; and niece Victoria McGeer, a senior research scholar at Princeton.