Oliver Porter Gillock Jr. ’63

Ollie died of a massive heart attack Apr. 21, 2001, on the morning of what was to be a joyous 60th birthday celebration with friends, family, and Princeton classmates.

Ollie, who lived in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., and came to Princeton from Lock Haven (Pa.) HS, was coordinator of planning and development for the New Jersey State Library. He began work there as a reference librarian 35 years ago, after earning a master's in library science from Rutgers.

He was an expert on library modernization and automation, and his role at the state library was overseeing building projects and renovations. Ollie took pleasure in providing advice to library colleagues all over the country, while his special delight was working on the state's library for the blind and people with other disabilities.

He couldn't let go of research, diving into archives everywhere to trace his roots back to Scotland. Never shedding his Eagle Scout habits, Ollie loved travel, hiking, and photography and, especially, working on our reunions. He was a fixture at off-year reunions, typically at the center of a gathering.

Our class shares the sorrow of his wife, Margaret, a science editor; sons, Douglas, an artist, and Nicholas, an architect; and brother, James.

The Class of 1963