Joseph E. Prather ’61

Joe died Nov. 27, 2023, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s. He and Ev had only recently relocated to a retirement community in Summit, N.J.

Born in Philadelphia, he came to us from Okemos (Mich.) High School. At Princeton, he majored in biology and took his meals at Cannon Club, but left the University after junior year to get married.

After working for the Edson Tool & Manufacturing Co. in New Jersey, he founded Macaw Co. in Ireland and later was president of a sporting goods company, Griffin & Howe, that channeled his interest in hunting and fishing.

Joe was the heart and soul of our class, serving in so many ways for virtually his entire adult life. Over the years he was our vice president, reunion chairman, and president, and founded our class foundation. He never missed a reunion from our sixth on, not to mention every mini-reunion, always impeccably dressed and never with a hair out of place. He chaired the University’s Alumni Council Committee on Reunions and was the grand marshal of the P-rade for seven years.

Joe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ev; daughters Wendy and Margaret; sons Tony *98, Christopher, and Alexander; and their families, which include 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.