Eugene G. Grace Jr. ’37

Stalwart Princetonian and at one time Philadelphia's most eligible bachelor, Gene Grace died Jan. 8, 1997, of heart failure. He is survived by Bobby, his wife of 48 years, three daughters, four granddaughters, one grandson, and one great-granddaughter.

Gene served our class as president (194752), chairman of the memorial fund, a member of the $53 million special gifts committee, and as treasurer of The Hill '33 Club (1953).

At The Hill, he was involved in soccer, track, choir, the Press Club, the Glee Club, and Comedessanger Club. At Princeton, he majored in history, earning second group honors, and he participated in soccer and track, and was a member of Cap and Gown.

At our fifth reunion, Gene engaged in a pole vaulthammer throw track meet, 1 inch pole vault to equal 1 foot hammer throw. One classmate did 12 ft. 6 in. and was so elated he measured the hammer from the front instead of the back. He lost to Gene, by that margin.

Gene volunteered for the Marines as a private first class and served a long term of duty in the Pacific before being discharged as a first lieutenant and returning to Heintz Manufacturing Co., where he had been head of priority work. By 1955 he was v.p. in charge of manufacturing. Heintz was sold in 1959, and Gene became chairman of the board of Ashbridge Corp. He served on the boards of many civic and sporting associations.

The Class of 1937