Harry Patterson ’53

Harry was born in Pompton Lakes, N.J., and came to Princeton from Pennington Preparatory School. He played varsity football but left college in his sophomore year to join the Navy. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Stockton University. 

After leaving the Navy, Harry enlisted in the New Jersey State Police, where he served for 27 years, retiring as captain in February 1983. He later became the director of surveillance at the Cable Beach Casino in Nassau, Bahamas. Returning to the United States, he joined the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and retired in 1992 as the chief of county detectives. 

Harry died March 14, 2019, of pancreatic cancer at his home in Smithville, N.J. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elaine; their twin daughters, Linda and Deneen; and three grandchildren.