Philip Heinecke ’56

Phil died Aug. 28, 2019, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He grew up in Hinsdale, Ill., and attended Hinsdale Township High School. At Princeton he majored in politics, was a member of Quadrangle Club, and was a midshipman in Naval ROTC. After graduation, he served in the Navy for three years and then attended Stanford Law School. While stationed in San Francisco he met Beverly, his wife of 59 years.

Phil had a diverse and interesting legal career, including working at a leading San Francisco law firm and serving as general counsel for a drugstore chain and an international mining and shipping company. Phil served as scoutmaster for his sons’ Boy Scout troop and then remained an active volunteer on the Marin Boy Scout Council executive board for many years. He was also active in the First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo, where he served as an elder. With his wife and family, he enjoyed international travel, skiing, trips to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival, jazz and symphony performances, and sporting events of all sorts.

He remained an avid and loyal Princeton alum — returning for Reunions many times and counting Princeton classmates as some of his closest friends.

His dry wit, deep affection, and can-do spirit will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; his sons, Scott and Peter ’87 and Peter’s wife Kathryn Bowsher ’87; and his granddaughter, Alexa.