Henry C. Meyer IV ’48

Henry, one of the more unconventional members of our class, died Feb. 3, 2026, at his home in Delray Beach, Fla., just eight days short of his 99th birthday. 

Born in New York City, Henry grew up in Montclair, N.J., and attended Phillips Andover before coming to Princeton in 1944. After serving in the Navy (1945-46), he received his AB in economics in June 1950. A member of Terrace Club, he had a regular seat at the nightly bridge game, along with lifelong friends, classmates Warren Nissley, Tom Wolf, Red Noland, and others. 

“His friends were legion. Some of them were critical of him, but all of them adored him and accepted all his idiosyncrasies,” said Tom. “For example, he would come to a dinner party eating an ice cream cone or attend a formal party without wearing a tie.”    

After Princeton, Henry went to Wall Street to work at a bank, but he left in his early 30s to become an independent financial adviser. This enabled him to follow his two great passions: bridge and golf. Henry joined the Regency Whist Club — conveniently located next door to his Manhattan apartment building — and served as president for a time. Later, he joined the Vero Beach (Fla.) Bridge Club, continuing to learn and master the game, as well as mentoring many players well into his 90s.

A lifelong student of golf as well, Henry became a member of the esteemed Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southhampton, N.Y., as a young man, and surmised that few had played the course more often than he. When he bought a winter home in Vero Beach in 1990, he became a member of Hawk’s Nest and The Moorings golf clubs and played until age 95.

In the early 1990s, Henry met Linda Epstein.They began as bridge partners and became much more, building a life together for the next 35 years. Linda understood Henry. “More than anyone else I know, Henry decided he wanted a certain life for himself and he built it,” she says.

Throughout his life, Henry remained a true original with a heart of gold, a bemused view of much transpiring around him, and a wealth of wisdom, which was mostly shared so unobtrusively that one might miss it if not paying attention. 

Henry was predeceased by his siblings, including brother Anthony ’52. He is survived by Linda, along with several nephews and nieces, to whom we extend our heartfelt condolences.