Leo G. B. Welt ’58

Leo died Aug. 5, 2004, of mantle cell lymphoma.

Leo's life was an incredible journey. It began in Nazi Germany in 1934. His Jewish political-dissident father died in a concentration camp, but his Catholic mother succeeded in concealing Leo through the end of World War II. She and Leo's sister died soon thereafter.

Without knowing English, Leo came to New York through Catholic Charities in 1950. A devoted foster family gave Leo crucial support. Not one of us defied greater odds to enter Princeton.

An early business career with International Paper, Weyerhauser, and Rockwell took Leo to West and East Africa. By the mid 1960s he was a trade representative in Moscow, becoming what Professor Cy Black said was "a true Soviet expert."

After establishing his own Washington firm, Welt International, a decade later, Leo helped his clients negotiate barter and counter-trade deals with communist-bloc and developing countries. Additionally, he founded the American Business Council and the Potomac Exchange to host luncheons for foreign ambassadors with corporate executives.

For years Leo hosted our annual class dinners in Washington. His warmth, humor, kindness, and openness with others will long be remembered. His life was well lived.

Leo is survived by daughter Sabina; son Bruno; former wife, Joanna; and his longtime companion, Jane Cicula. To them, the class extends heartfelt sympathy.

The Class of 1958