Gerald J. Laba ’62

Gerry died of heart failure June 25, 2011, in Encino, Calif.

Gerry entered Princeton from St. Louis Country Day School. An English major, he was a member of Key and Seal and was editor-in-chief of the Nassau Herald. His senior-year roommates were Walter Uhrman, Don Allison, and the late Gil Gordon.

After graduation he earned a law degree at Michigan (he was on the Law Review), winning a scholarship to the University of Brussels for a year. This included travel throughout Europe, Russia, and Israel.

After a stint with an entertainment law firm in Los Angeles, where he did legal work for stars, he joined Lord, Day in New York City before moving to Soon Investment Properties International. While abroad he won a five-year struggle with cancer and learned to speak eight languages.

Gerry started an investment company in Russia — a costly affair. Evidently, he inspired a soft drink, Gerry Lay. His 10-year marriage ended in 1992. He returned from Russia with a friend and her young daughter, Anastasia, having promised the latter a better life (she made it to college).

The class extends its sympathy to his sister, Laurie; brother-in-law Neale Eckstein; and his “cosmic” daughter, Anastasia Baranova.