Elihu Inselbuch ’59

Elihu — musician, athlete, crack lawyer, and first-class wit — died peacefully Aug. 15, 2019, at his summer home on Shelter Island, N.Y. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Harriet; his sons, Adam ’85 and Frank; his daughter, Jessica Malasek; and four grandchildren.

Elihu was born in, and was a lifelong resident of, New York City, where he attended Midwood High School. At Princeton he fenced with the Ivy League championship team, was music director of the Triangle Club, played trumpet in the marching band, and played piano and bridge at Charter Club.

In addition to his Princeton degree in economics, he earned a law degree from Columbia and a tax LL.M. from New York University. He practiced law for 55 years in New York City, first with Gilbert, Segall & Young, and then 32 years as a partner at Caplin & Drysdale, where he was head of the firm’s bankruptcy and complex-litigation groups and co-chair of the firm.

Elihu served in the Army and in the Navy, as a JAG Corps lieutenant. A 45-year member of the New York Racquet & Tennis Club, he and his partner won the Western Open Racquets Doubles Championship in 1994.

Devoted to Princeton and ’59, he served both as class treasurer and president and, from 1993 to 1995, as chairman of the Alumni Council. Quick with a smile, a raconteur par excellence, he will be missed by all in ’59.