Fidelio Gillette Chamberlain Jr. ’39

Fidel died Feb. 21, 2003, of bone cancer, complicated by a stroke that closed his esophagus and resulted in a very painful last few days. Born in San Antonio, he lived there all his life except for his days at Lawrenceville, Princeton, and four years in the Naval Reserve as a lieutenant commander, largely with destroyer and cruiser duty in the Pacific.

Though he majored in electrical engineering, Fidel started his professional life as a banker and wound up in the life insurance business with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. A cousin of the Klebergs of the King Ranch, he was devoted especially to Illa Clement (whose mother was a Kleberg) and her husband, our classmate, Jim. With them he generally attended our major reunions. Fidel described himself as healthy and happily single with wonderful family and friends. He warmly supported the local arts institutions. More recently he took three trips to Europe to fly hot air balloons with the Bombard Society. He was a member of the San Antonio Golf Club and was a past president of The Order of the Alamo. He is survived by two nieces and many cousins, to all of whom we offer our sincere sympathy.

The Class of 1939