Ib Eric Sundt ’53

Eric captained the freshman swimming team, was a frogman on the Navy's Underwater Demolition Team, and went on to make a bigger splash in commercial real estate. Regrettably, he died Feb. 13, 2004, in La Jolla, Calif. after a long battle with cancer.

A Houston native, he prepared at Sewanee Military Academy. At Princeton he concentrated in the SPIA program and belonged to Quadrangle Club. A handsome, very likable individual, Eric was never without a pretty date for weekend parties, two-year roommate Steve Paliska recalls.

After the service, a master's from Columbia, and an overseas stint with Exxon, Eric settled in California. He joined Coldwell Banker Brokers and later opened his own office, Sundt Development Corp. He specialized in commercial properties and successfully rode the real-estate industry's roller-coaster. In our 25th yearbook, it was learned that he was nationally ranked in Masters Swimming. He enthusiastically backed his son, Jon, who established the Sundt Memorial Foundation to combat youthful substance abuse.

Besides Jon, he is survived by wife Hedi, daughter Julie Funes, brother Peter, sister Helen De St. Anthost, and two grandchildren. We shall miss Eric, with his sense of fun and acts of kindness.

The Class of 1953