Philip Reginald Herzig ’46

Phil died suddenly of heart failure Feb. 20, 2004.

A lifelong resident of Great Neck, N.Y., he prepped at the Peddie School and entered Princeton in 1942. After serving as a sergeant in a combat infantry regiment in Europe from 1944-46 and earning a Purple Heart, he graduated in 1947 with honors. At Princeton, Phil enjoyed 150-lb football, crew, and Whig-Clio debating.

Married in 1949 to Helene Phillips, sister of Gerry Phillips '46, Phil began a long and brilliant Wall St. career, first with his father's firm, Herzig & Hart, as a fur buyer in Alaska, then in his own partnership of P. R. Herzig & Co. An astute trader, he made market coups in gold, foreign exchange, and railroad bonds. His market notes, Gold Dustings, were highly valued. Although after 9/11, he moved the firm to Roslyn, N.Y., Phil was active until his death. His son Thomas succeeds him.

With Helene, Phil participated in many community charities. He served as class agent from 1960-61.

A strong family man, he gave his children Julie, Thomas, and Lydia a close-knit home. This modest, totally honest, intelligent, and generous man is mourned by his wife, children, and seven grandchildren, and remembered as a classmate who served his country, community, university, and family exceptionally well.

The Class of 1946