Peter O. Eralandsen ’60

Peter died June 3, 2006, of a heart attack.

Peter entered Princeton with the Class of 1958 after graduating from Andover and attending schools in Garden City, N.Y. A member of Elm Club and active in flying at Princeton, Peter took a couple of years off and graduated with the Class of 1960 with a bachelor’s in aeronautical engineering. He later earned a master’s from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

His work included wind-tunnel-like studies on models under blimps, Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft, and soft propeller auto-rotating devices. He retired after 30 years at Otis Elevator, where he was a project manager working on elevators and people-movers, and became a leading expert on cable dynamics of elevators in swaying buildings.

Peter loved classical music and could sing multiple roles in Gilbert & Sullivan operas. He enjoyed building, and in 1964 joined Kent Mina ’58 in constructing a vacation A-frame in Vermont. He served as president and treasurer at South Glastonbury (Conn.) Library and managed van services for Trinity Church in Hartford, which established a special remembrance for him.

He is survived by his loving wife, Julie; children Kirsten, Kirby, and Kyle, and their mother, Joyce; stepchildren Brian, Stephanie, and Kerry; 12 grandchildren; a brother, Eric; and a sister, Clarita.

The class extends sympathy to Peter’s extended family.