Preston Wolfe ’28

Preston Wolfe, prominent newspaper editor and civic leader in Columbus, Ohio, died May 7, 1996, at Riverside Methodist Hospital. He divided his secondary education between Columbus Academy, Culver Military Academy, and the Hun School. He was a member of Charter Club. He left college during junior year.

Preston was a cub reporter with the Washington Star, and then with the old Ohio State Journal. He became editor and president of the company in 1947 and retired in 1973. His son, John F., succeeded him.

Preston married Jean Bostwick in 1938. He is survived by her, his daughter, Nancy Lane, his son, John F., five grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren.

Preston was an oldfashioned newspaper executive, treating his staff as family. He was knowledgeable about public issues, and fearless about commenting on them. He was a member of the Metropolitan Committee, a small but significant unofficial group of the city's leaders who were interested in the growth and development of Columbus. Preston was influential in promoting both an income tax to undergird the city's infrastructure and a bond issue for first-rate hospitals. Preston was a member of many civic boards, as well as on many boards of cultural and charitable institutions, including the Broad St. Presbyterian Church. The classmates at Princeton who knew Preston both in and after college admired his ability and dedication.

The Class of 1928

George Elliott Gillespie Jr. '29

Gilly died in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mar. 15, 1996. He was born in Coatsville, Pa., and prepared for college at Coatsville H.S. At Princeton he was a member of Cloister Inn. His entire professional career was in retailing.

He started with R. H. Macy, and then joined the Johns Shilito Federated Department Store (still operating in Cincinnati under the name of Lazarus Department Store), from which he retired in 1971. Gilly was asked to become chair of the Natl. Alliance of Businessmen's recruiting program, and his work in that capacity was cited by the governor of Ohio. Gilly was a member of Christ Church, and had responsibility for Christ Church Camp, which served young people from both the parish and the inner city. After retirement Gilly traveled quite a bit and maintained his winter home in Hillsboro Beach, Fla., as well as his Cincinnati residence. In 1942 he married Betty Louise Timmerman, and she survives, together with their children, Ellen Gillespie Haddad and John R. Another son, George E. III, died earlier. The class extends sincere sympathy to Gilly's family.

The Class of 1929