Henry Martin Doerfler Jr. ’53

Hank died April 17, 2004, in Spring Hill, Fla.

His wife, Lorraine, said he had suffered from multiple-systems atrophy, Parkinson's, ataxia, and Alzheimer's. A native Philadelphian, he came from Northeast High School where he graduated in the top 10 percent of his class. He was a freshman football stalwart and lettered on the 1950 varsity as an offensive left tackle. Varsity center Ted McClain, a roommate, good-naturedly recalls Hank as "a fun-loving, roly-poly individual with a blond crew cut." Another roommate, varsity tackle Fred Powell, fondly says Hank was built like "a fireplug" and was "a hard-nosed player."

When good-humored Hank left Princeton the middle of sophomore year, he gave Fred his "P.U. gym" pants and the telephone number of his local girlfriend's sister. The cover of the 1999 Yale game program contained a 1950 posed picture of teammates Hank and Holly Donan '51 providing pass protection for Dick Kazmaier '52. Lorraine has it framed as a treasured memento.

Hank was an Army veteran who served in Korea, and until his retirement was associated with Metro Distributing Co.

Besides Lorraine he leaves daughters Jeannette Pickford and Charlotte Doerfler, and seven grandchildren. We regret Hank was not with us all four years on campus and on the gridiron.

The Class of 1953