Lester Tibbals Jr. *50

Lester Tibbals, who taught history at Princeton Day School for 34 years, died June 29, 2013. He was 97.

Tibbals graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. in 1940, having been on the varsity swimming and track teams. He served in the Navy in World War II, and joined the faculty of Princeton Country Day School (PCD) in 1947 (which merged with Miss Fine’s School in 1965). He earned a master’s degree in history from Princeton in 1950.

Tibbals taught at the combined Princeton Day School into 1981, and was an avid supporter of its athletics. He coached tennis, hockey, skating, and football, and served as athletic director from 1958 to 1965. In 2003, he was inducted into the Princeton Day School Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2011, the PCD Class of 1961, on its 50th reunion, made Tibbals an honorary member.

Paul J. Stellato, the current head of school, wrote that Tibbals often said, “There wasn’t a day that I didn’t love going to work.” In retirement he was an active community volunteer.

Tibbals was predeceased by Christina, his wife of 66 years. He is survived by a daughter, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. A son died in 2005.

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