Harold B. Elsasser ’55

Hal, a bridge engineer and construction manager, whose jobs included the Verrazzano Bridge in New York and the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia, died Nov. 3, 2025.

He was born Nov. 3, 1933, in Mt. Pleasant, N.Y., attended Princeton Country Day School through the eighth grade, then Exeter for one year, and graduated from the Lawrenceville School, where he was active in sports, dramatics and the glee club. At Princeton, he joined Elm Club and majored in civil engineering. He won numerals in freshman soccer and hockey and a secondary “P” in varsity soccer. Senior year he roomed with George Douglas and Roger Barron.

After Princeton Hal served two years in the Navy. While his ship was in dry dock at the Boston Navy Yard he met Sandra Gale, a nursing student at Boston College, and they were married April 12, 1958.

Hal began his long and successful career in 1959 in Greenland with the American bridge division of USX Corp. He worked with them in the States through 1986, when USX dissolved the bridge division. He continued with other major consulting work until his retirement, often offering the thought that “each day is another day in which to excel.” Hal sang in the choir of the United Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years until he converted to his wife’s Roman Catholic Church in 2018. As his confirmation name he chose Joseph, the patron saint of engineers.

Hal is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sandra; daughters Gretchen Medich, Mary-Ruth Keough, Nancy Keiser, and Tricia Berger; and 15 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his infant son Erik.