Oscar Straus II ’36

Oscar died Jan. 11, 2013 in Bellport, N.Y., from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

He was born in New York City and attended St. Paul’s School. At Princeton, Oscar majored in economics and was a member of Colonial Club. He kept himself busy with the varsity rifle team, the editorial board of the Princeton Tiger, Theatre Intime, the Yacht Club, and the Gun Club.

In his Nassau Herald biography, Oscar predicted he would become a member of the Foreign Service, and he was right. He served as vice consul in Montreal until World War II, then enlisted in the Coast Guard and was assigned to the Department of State’s Intelligence Section. He later moved to the private sector, joining the American Smelting and Refining Co. He was also a partner in Guggenheim Brothers and founded Straus Minerals. He served on many boards and was president of two family foundations — one of which, the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, established the Oscar Straus II fellowship program at Princeton.

Oscar is survived by his wife, Joan (Sutton); his son, Oscar III ’64; two stepchildren; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The class sends its deepest condolences to them.