Harold Clifford Mathisen ’44

Harold Mathisen died Feb. 14, 2010, at his Chatham, N.J., home.

A lifelong New Jersey resident, Hal graduated as class valedictorian from Clifford J. Scott High School in East Orange. He entered Princeton at 16 and graduated with a degree in mathematics and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He met his wife, Dora, during Navy midshipman training at Notre Dame. After service in the Pacific, he was discharged as a lieutenant junior grade. In 1948, he graduated from Harvard Business School.  

Hal’s 59 years of financial-industry work were principally with Legg Mason in New York City as a chartered financial analyst and financial adviser.  

Besides Dora, his wife of 63 years, Hal leaves three daughters, Margaret Bennett, Elizabeth Andersen, and Barbara Ramsland; a son, Harold III; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A priority for Hal was his religious life, which kept him devoid of anger, deceit, or profanity. He was treasurer, elder, and choir singer at Long Hill Chapel in Chatham; a trustee of the New York City Rescue Mission for many years; and treasurer of our class from 2004 to 2009.