Gilbert B. Kirwin ’58

Gilbert “Gib” Kirwin came to Princeton from Far Rockaway High School in Queens, N.Y., where he had been president of his class and an All-New York City football player.

At Princeton he majored in economics, was in the Navy ROTC, and played both freshman and junior varsity football. During his first two years he roomed with Paul Nystrom, Larry Sault, Ken Lenert, Cliff MacDonald, and Bill Tornrose, and as a junior and senior with Dial Lodge clubmates Lenert, Jim Clarke, Willie Cox, Mike Curan, and Carroll James.

Gib served as a Marine Corps officer in Okinawa, retiring from the Reserve as a major. He then went to Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. He maintained an active law practice in San Francisco, primarily as a plaintiff’s trial attorney, and later in La Jolla, Calif., where he had a second home, until his death from cancer Dec. 2, 2011.

Gib was a member of the San Francisco Yacht Club, which he loved. He was active in the Northern California Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. He remained interested in Princeton, kept in touch with a number of classmates, and attended many of our reunions. He was involved with Bay Area Princeton activities — particularly in helping the athletics department with recruiting — and followed Princeton sports closely.

He is survived by his wife, Joanne; his daughter, Rachel; and brothers Stanley and Paul and their families. The class extends its condolences to them all.