Langthorne Sykes ’51

Lang was born Feb. 27, 1930, in Newark, N.J., and came to us from South Pasadena-San Marino High in California. He died July 17, 2005, in Oceanside, Calif.

At Princeton he majored in physics and roomed with David Smith, Carol Lyttle, and Greg Sheridan. He was active in the Glee Club, Chapel Choir, and WPRU.

After graduation, Lang worked for a Navy contractor and eventually was the civilian in charge of research and development at the China Lake Naval Weapons Research Center, where he managed the development of projects such as the Sidewinder air-to-air missile. Thereafter he worked for Hughes Aircraft, where he managed projects including the Discovery unmanned moon missions. Following retirement, he developed an interest in the emerging field of personal computers and had a second career as a computer systems analyst.

Lang always took great pride in his Princeton education. He also was devoted to the Episcopal Church.

Divorced, he is survived by his son, Marc, and his daughters, Megan and Agnes. The class extends its sympathy to them in their loss, as Greg Sheridan said, of a gifted, productive, and decent human being.