H. Paul Abbott ’31

AFTER A struggle with cancer, Paul, known to us as "Bot," died on Aug. 20, 1989, at his home in Ponte Verde, Fla. He prepared at the Lawrenceville School. At Princeton Bot majored in Latin and Greek, but tempered this academic program with extensive involvement in extracurricular activities. He won his numerals three years in wrestling and track, served on the freshman yearbook committee, was a member of the Glee Club, Theatre Intime, and the debating team, manager of the Student Tutoring Agency and of Charter Club. These varied interests did not detract from a strong academic performance. After Princeton, he chose to pursue a career in teaching, first at the Adirondack-Florida School, where he became associate headmaster, and later as headmaster of Newark Academy. He was a lt. commander in the Navy during WWII. After the war, he joined the Insurance Co. of N.A. He later became V.P., and remained there until his retirement in 1974.

Bot was president of the Society of Training and Development; president of the Insurance Companies Educational Directors Society; director of the Life Office Management Association; director of the Mantua Industrial Development; director of the Oxford First Corp. in Philadelphia, and the Milton Head Co.; director of the Southern Home for Children in Philadelphia; chairman of the commerce and industrial division of the United Fund of Philadelphia; and director of the personnel committee of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Bot enjoyed golf and sailing. Besides being a veteran of such open-ocean races as Annapolis-Newport and Bermuda races, he successfully competed in races throughout the Chesapeake and Long Island Sound.

Bot and his wife had the distinction of being '31's first great-grandparents. Our sympathy is extended to his wife, Elizabeth, son, Dr. Anthony Abbott '62, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.