Nelson E. Hubbell Jr. ’45

Nelson Hubbell died Aug. 21, 2010, at the Cypress Cove retirement community in Fort Myers, Fla.

He entered Princeton from Lawrenceville, following in the footsteps of his father (Class of 1914). At Princeton he roomed with Lud Ludington, joined Cap and Gown, enlisted in the Navy V-12 program, and played football. Along with other V-12 engineers he was transferred to Cornell, where he completed his degree requirements in 1944. He returned to Princeton to receive his degree.

After midshipman’s school, Nels was assigned to Scouts and Raiders (now known as SEAL) training. When the war was over, he returned to Buffalo and managed a Detroit Steel Products Co. factory. He later joined a small construction company, Lerch-Hubbell Inc., which became highly successful. He also established a real estate company.

For many years he served as a deacon of the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church in Buffalo. Ever the enthusiastic Princetonian, at Cypress Cove he was known as the man who always wore orange and black socks!

Nels is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Jean Wesselmann Hubbell; their children, Nels III ’75, Ginny Hubbell Penepent, Brad Hubbell, Marcy Hubbell Paton, and Nancy Hubbell Anderson; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The class sends sincere condolences to the family.