Karl F. Rugart Jr. ’45

Karl died April 30, 2014.

He entered Princeton from Episcopal Academy and joined Terrace Club. Karl signed up with the Navy V-12 program and completed his Princeton studies uninterrupted. A biology major, he was one of the first in our class to earn his degree and graduated in 1944.

In 1948, Karl earned a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and began working as an ob/gyn. During his 50-year career he delivered nearly 7,000 babies. Karl spent nearly his entire career at Pennsylvania Hospital, retiring in 1998.

Karl was devoted to his family, his profession, his community, and our Princeton class, which he staunchly supported along with his wife, Patsy, and daughter Cynthia, our class treasurer. He gave both financial support and physical energy to innumerable and varied community organizations. One of his many gifts to Princeton was a significant founding contribution to its chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Karl’s life and career cannot be summarized in 200 words, but we will devote a column to him that will provide more impressive details.

Patsy predeceased Karl. He is survived by children Cynthia, Karl III ’78, Conrad, and Eric; and seven grandchildren. The class expresses its sympathy to them all.