Philip B. Kunhardt Jr. ’50

Phil, a well-known writer and producer of documentaries, died March 21, 2006, at his home in Chappaqua, N.Y.

Phil came to Princeton from Groton. He belonged to Cottage Club, played rugby, and graduated with high honors in humanities. Immediately after graduation he married Katharine, the sister of his roommate, Clint Trowbridge. Two weeks later he started as a reporter for Life magazine. He was its managing editor when the magazine ceased publication in 1972. He then created the first dummy issues of People magazine, and in 1978, brought Life back as a monthly.

A recurrence of heart trouble prompted his retirement in 1982, but he continued editing Life Books. From the 1990s on he worked in his son's documentary firm, Kunhardt Productions, whose films included PBS documentaries.

Phil wrote more than a dozen books, some with his mother and some with his sons. Two were memoirs of his parents. One of his books dealt with Lincoln's assassination and another with Matthew Brady, both inspired by an extensive collection of Brady's glass negatives and other memorabilia that he had inherited. Phil always looked forward to his summers on the Maine coast.

Phil is survived by Katharine, six children, and 16 grandchildren, to whom we extend our sympathy.

The Class of 1950