Gelston Hinds ’44

One month shy of being 90, Gel Hinds died Dec. 20, 2011, in Bristol, R.I., after a long siege of dementia.

A graduate of Hotchkiss, Gel was active in ROTC, band, and Cap and Gown at Princeton, where he majored in history and graduated in May 1943. His roommates were Ted Griffinger and Jim Beattie.

After 15 months serving in the Army in the South Pacific, he separated as a first lieutenant. He worked for Curtiss-Wright, married Jacquelyn Snow in 1948, and was called back in 1951 to serve 14 months in Germany.

Gel was politically active as a Democrat while living in Montclair, N.J. He played tournament croquet in the U.S. and abroad, and loved bird-watching and astronomy.

After working in sales at Western Union, he was the business manager of the town of Tuxedo, N.Y., and then of the Tuxedo School  District before retiring in Little Compton, R.I.

The son of Roger Hinds 1906 and brother of the late Roger Jr. ’40, Gel is survived by his wife, Jackie; a son, Gelston Jr. ’73; daughters Hilary Kitasei and Martha Jacobson; and  six grandchildren, including Yume Kitasei ’09.

Gel, known for his keen sense of humor and strong Princeton roots, served as ’44’s class secretary from 1962 to 1965.