Frank E. Masland III ’44

Frank Masland, who was known as “Mike,” died Jan. 22, 2011, in his lifelong home of Carlisle, Pa.  

At Princeton he was on the swimming team, was a member of Theater Intime and Tower Club, and majored in economics. He met Marie Perry on a blind date in March 1943, married her in May, and immediately graduated from Princeton to go into the Army. He served in Europe as a Sherman tank forward observer, earning a Bronze Star.  

After Harvard Business School, he joined the family rug business, C.H. Masland & Sons, eventually becoming CEO. He helped the company go public before it was sold in 1986.

A 60-year Rotary member who also served on the board of Grove City (Pa.) College, Mike became a licensed pilot and played lots of golf, including once with Mickey Mantle and once with Chi Chi Rodriguez. Active at every level of the YMCA, he became its national chairman, and served on the board of the National Association of Manufacturers.  

Mike never missed a Princeton five-year reunion.  

He was predeceased by Marie, his wife of 61 years, and their daughter, Ellen, who died in an airplane crash. He is survived by his sons, Frank IV ’71 and Jonathan; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.