Henry Wendt III ’55

 Henry died April 11, 2024. He once told a Princeton friend that he aimed to become head of a major corporation. He did just that, as CEO and chairman of Smith Kline & French, which evolved into SmithKline Beecham, a pharmaceutical giant. He was also a lifelong sailor, fly fisherman, skier, and collector of antique maps. Henry wrote Global Embrace, a book on corporate challenges; and was a major supporter of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. With his wife, Holly, he founded Quivira Estate Vineyards and Winery in the Napa Valley, which was noted for its strong embrace of organic principles. Quivira wines were happy additions to several class reunions, and the winery hosted a day of the class’s 2006 mini-reunion in the Bay Area.

Henry was born July 19, 1933, in Neptune City, N.J., and attended the Hackley School. At Princeton, he joined Colonial Club and majored in history. He participated in freshman swimming and freshman and JV 150-pound crew, was advertising manager of The Tiger, and was on the staff of The Daily Princetonian. He was also a member of the Mountaineering Club and the Undergraduate Council.

His junior- and senior-year roommates were John Swabey, Tom Webster, George Kirkham, Paul Potter, Dick Shaughnessy, Fred London, Al Dibbins, Bill Gilland, and Lew Barker. In 2002, Henry was honored with the Class of ’55 Annual Award for his accomplishments in pharmaceuticals and health care.

Henry is survived by his wife of 67 years, Holly; daughters Chelsea Wendt and Laura Mitchell; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.