Hugh K. Wachter ’68

Hugh died July 21, 2024, in Hagerstown, Md., of natural causes.

“Stash” came to us from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., where he was active in football, track, and student government. At Princeton, he served as head manager of the Express-Reunion Agency, social chairman of Charter Club (managing to pull off some events that remain legendary to this day) and was the manager of the US 4 rock band. He majored in politics and lived at 311 Walker Hall his senior year. His graduation followed that of his father, F.C. Wachter ’32.

Upon leaving Princeton, Hugh became a successful newspaper editor for Gannett publications including USA Today, eventually settling in the Washington, D.C., area, while rising to senior editor.

When our great class needed an editor for its 25th-reunion yearbook, all eyes turned to Hugh. That yearbook success jump-started a new business for Hugh, Reunion Press, which went on to become the premier publishing arm for more than 300 university and prep school yearbooks. An innovator as well, Hugh went on to form Reunion Technologies, bringing internet technology to the reunion book publishing business.

Hugh was an active volunteer for his own Princeton and Episcopal High School reunions as well as a reliable attender, staying highly connected to many of classmates all his life.

Perhaps Hugh’s biggest weakness was his joy of collecting. His Hagerstown basement was full of almost a thousand die-cast model automobiles, the dining room showed off a collection of wild sculpturesque teapots, and Hagerstown Statton Furniture was tracked down from around the country and featured in every room of the house. Books were everywhere, often in multiple copies so he could pass one on to the right recipient. He spent hours most evenings scouring eBay.

Hugh is survived by his older brother, Ted; several cousins; and many close friends.