Henry R. Durell ’49

Our class lost one of its best-liked members when Hank Durell passed away at his home in Milford, Conn., on Aug. 2, 1994, after a long battle with cancer.

Hank was born in Dennis Township, N.J., Sept. 26, 1927, and prepared for college at Peddie School. At Princeton, he was a member of Campus Club and organized a very popular dance band.

Following Princeton and a stint in the Army, Hank joined Sears Roebuck & Co. and began a career in retailing, ending as manager of Read's Dept. Store in Bridgeport, Conn., before joining the Private Industry Council in 1983.

As executive director of the P.I.C. of Southern Connecticut for 12 years, until his illness required him to stop work, Hank's leadership earned his council group multiple regional and national awards, including being named the top job-training professional in New England. He held an M.B.A. from the Univ. of New Haven.

Along with teaching organizational behavior at Sacred Heart Univ., Hank taught photography and boating safety. He was a Coast Guard licensed captain and scuba diver. The Durell family history at Princeton stretches back for 120 years, with ten Durclls represented.

Hank is survived by his widow, Mary Jane; sons David and Michael; brother John Durell '43 p'75; and sisters Ann Durell and Virginia Way. We share with them the loss of a most genial man.