Peter Thomas Milano ’55

Pete, a big guy with a huge heart and a vast collection of friends and admirers, died after a long illness Oct. 2, 2021. Said Tom Markham, the first classmate Pete met freshman year and his senior-year roommate, “He was just a great guy. I’ve never heard anybody say a word against him. He was admired in many quarters.”

Pete was born Oct. 21, 1933, in Yonkers, N.Y. At Yonkers High School he was captain of the football, baseball, and basketball teams. Also, he met and fell in love with Christine Prota, the captain of the cheerleading team, whom he married after his graduation with honors from Princeton. Pete majored in mechanical engineering; joined Cannon Club, where he was vice president; was a mainstay of the varsity football team; and participated in IAA basketball, volleyball, softball, and track. 

After a career with AT&T, in 1989 he turned his focus to Princeton and the Class of  ’55. “It was the most enjoyable job I ever had,” he told Markham. Pete became a founder, board member, and president of Project 55, now AlumniCorps. With the class he was a co-chair of the 40th reunion and served as class vice president for two five-year terms

Pete is survived by his wife, Christine; sons Peter ’88, Thomas, and Steven; and grandchildren Michael ’12, Emily, Matthew, Kaitlin, Kaileigh, and Peighton.