Frederic C. De Sibert ’53

Fred, as he was known to family and friends, was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and educated in France until 1947, when he flew to the United States for the first time and enrolled at Lawrenceville. The flight was the beginning of his love affair with aviation that lasted throughout his life, which ended peacefully Jan. 10, 2011, in Monterey, Calif., after an extended illness.

At Princeton, his major was aeronautical engineering. He took part in the Flying Club and was a member of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences. He dined at Terrace Club, and his roommates were Charles Wahl, Bill Gardner, and France’s Bernie Lacoste. Bill Ogden recalls that Fred and Bernie were lifelong pals dating back to grade school.  

As a European helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army, Fred met the love of his life, Marie-France Gadala, a 1954 University of Paris graduate, and married her. Fred began his civilian career as a flight test engineer at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Connecticut. He eventually was in charge of Sikorksy’s European operations until his retirement.  

Fred is survived by Marie-France, his beloved wife of 54 years; children Isabelle Dusastre, Geoffrey, and Christopher; and six grandchildren. He was dignified and generous, and most importantly, loved by all whose lives he touched.