Hilary Lipsitz ’55

Hilary was born June 23, 1933, in Baltimore, and died Aug. 4, 2016, in Manhattan’s Mt. Sinai West Hospital of complications from pulmonary hypertension.

At Princeton, he majored in English and the Special Program for the Humanities, wrote his thesis on James Joyce, and joined Tiger Inn.

His first job was at BBD&O, where he rose to be a vice president. During that time, he produced plays off Broadway, including Jacinto Benavente’s The Bonds of Interest with Mary Louise Wilson, David Doyle, and Peter Falk.

Hilary was “a legend in advertising,” creating music for such memorable TV campaigns as “GE, We Bring Good Things to Life” for General Electric; “You Got The Right One, Baby, Uh-Huh” for Diet Pepsi; and winning numerous Clio Awards while working with iconic American brands such as AT&T, Campbell’s Soup, and Diet Coke. While he was president of Sunday Productions (originally Golden Bough Productions), founded in 1974, “I Believe in Love,” sung by Nina Hart, was produced at Golden Bough and nominated for an Academy Award for best song in 2012.

An active alumnus, Hilary was crucial in planning our reunions and was beloved by Dodie and Charlie Mapes. We owe him much. Witness our smooth Sixtieth.

He is survived by his wife, Ethel; their three children, Evan, Andrew ’86, and Kate; three grandchildren; and a sister, Betty Rout.