Jacques E. Wallach ’48

Jacques, our last remaining international correspondent, died Aug. 26, 2023, at age 95.

Born in Basel, Switzerland, Jacques arrived with his family in New York via ship from Lisbon in 1941. He was only 13 and possessed a minimal knowledge of English when his parents decided to emigrate to the United States during World War II. At Princeton, Jacques earned a B.S.E. in chemical engineering, graduating in June 1948 at age 20 after eight semesters (only 2 1/2 years of study). He was a member of Cloister Inn.

“Those years at University were truly wonderful years,” he would write in a 2020 autobiographical piece. “However, it was only later that I realized it was not an advantage to be channeled through the education years too young and too quickly.”

Following what he called “a year of indecision,” Jacques returned to his native country to join the Schmoll Corp., which was the family business. There, Jacques worked alongside his brothers — who included Raymond A. Wallach ’47 — in a metal trade business that focused on scrap metal.

Jacques’ industriousness helped the company to gain a significant presence in Switzerland to the point where he wrote in our 10th-anniversary book that “the volume of business contacts occupies me almost completely during the week and brings me often to the surrounding countries.” He remained with the company for 44 years.

Jacques’ wife, Elsbeth Geissberger, predeceased him. He is survived by their children, Daniel, Claudine, and Michèle; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson. The Class of 1948 sends its condolences on the passing of our esteemed classmate.