George L. Ohrstrom Jr. ’50

George died of pneumonia Oct. 6, 2005, at his home in The Plains, Va.

He graduated from St. Paul's and was recognized as a major benefactor of the school when a new library was dedicated in his honor in 1991. He served in the Marine Corps from 1945 to 1946. At Princeton, he majored in history, lettered in crew, and organized a team from his club, Cottage, to row at Henley.

For his contributions to Princeton crew, an 8-oared shell bears his name.

In the early 1950s he worked at the State Department. In 1960, after five years with Lehman Brothers, he joined G.L. Ohrstrom & Co., a private-equity company founded by his father. He became the firm's chairman in 1966.

George was an avid foxhunter and a breeder and owner of thoroughbred and steeplechase horses. He raced multiple-stakes winners in the U.S. and Europe.

As scion of one of Virginia's wealthiest families, he was a highly respected philanthropist and conservationist who was an early supporter of easements to preserve open space. Under his chairmanship and vision, the National Sporting Library, the country's only scholarly repository solely for equine and field sports, became a premier institution.

Our sympathy goes to George's wife, Jacqueline; his sister; four children; and five grandchildren.

The Class of 1950