Lewis E. Grimes ’72

The class learned this summer about the sudden death of Lewis E. Grimes July 5, 2011, in Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Lewis entered Princeton with the Class of 1971 but graduated with 1972 after a year’s recovery from a fall from a scaffold during summer employment in 1970.

Lewis came to Princeton from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. He was a member of the Princeton Outing Club (an organization active in outdoor recreation), worked at the Student Pizza Agency, and joined Colonial Club. He lived at Edwards Hall as a junior and at Princeton Inn in his final year.

Lewis began his studies in engineering but switched to philosophy, graduating with highest honors and a teaching certificate. He earned a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1974 and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon in 1980. He worked for Amoco Oil, its successor BP, and Universal Oil Products. His passions were philosophy, language, music, bicycling, and his family.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda B. Darrah; his children, David Grimes and Leah Sampey and Leah’s husband, Frank; siblings James Grimes Jr. and Lois Bittinger; and many nieces and nephews. The class sends sympathy to them and the extended family.