Peter Emmet Fleming Jr. ’51

Pete was born Aug. 18, 1929, in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., and came to us from Andover.  

He was a history major (American civilization), played varsity baseball, belonged to Cottage Club, and roomed with Charlie Beattie, Roby Harrington, Bill Iler, Jack Reydel, Chuck Weeden, Stan Weiland, and Dave VanVleck. He served in the Navy during the Korean War as a first lieutenant on the USS Oriskany.  

After graduating from Yale Law School in 1958, Pete was an associate at Davis Polk & Wardell for four years. He served for nine years as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he won 49 out of 50 cases as prosecutor. In 1970 he joined Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, where he became one of the country’s most prominent defense lawyers; he was a partner of the firm at the time of his death.

Jane Breed and Pete were married in 1956 and raised a family of five children. Jane was a granddaughter of William C. Breed, a founder of Breed, Abbott & Morgan.  

Pete died Jan. 14, 2009, from complications of lung surgery; Jane predeceased him. He is survived by their children, Peter, James, William ’85, David, and Jane ’89; his sister, Joan Sexton; and 11 grandchildren.