Evan P. Sampatacos ’67

Evan Sampatacos died of cancer Dec. 13, 2007, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

A graduate of Cheshire (Conn.) High School, he concentrated in Princeton’s aerospace and mechanical sciences department and was a Forrestal technician and a member of AIAA and Elm Club.

He roomed with John Snapper in 1903 and achieved notoriety as the first pick in room draw — dispelling the urban legend that it was rigged to favor star athletes and sons of noted alumni. Evan was known as one of the nicest guys imaginable.

As planned, Evan became an aerospace engineer. He was awarded the Donald Douglas fellowship to MIT, where he earned a master’s in aerospace engineering. Early in his career, he worked on the Viking Mars Lander and other space vehicles. Evan became Boeing’s director of helicopter design and was chief engineer of the MD900 Explorer helicopter.

Evan was an avid skier, dog lover, auto-racing enthusiast, and car collector. He proudly displayed a Princeton sticker on his bright red Corvette.

A great family man, he is survived by his wife, Lori; his daughter, Erin, and son-in-law, Peter Freedland; and his son, Nels. He met Lori during college and remained deeply in love for all these years.