R. Scott Greathead ’68

The class has lost another giant. Scott died Aug. 17, 2024, in New York City of cancer.

He came to us from Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach, Calif., where he was president of the student body and on the varsity track team. At Princeton, he participated in varsity crew and the Chapel Deacons Society. He ate at Cottage Club and majored in history. Senior year, he roomed in Dean Gordon’s home while hanging out with Ken Michaelchuck and John Friedman in Cuyler.

While serving in the Marine Corps Reserve for six years, Scott attended law school at the University of Virginia. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City, where he practiced law at several prestigious law firms until his death, as well as being the first assistant AG for New York State’s attorney general for six years. His passion was human rights, and he was a founder and leader of several such organizations as well as being a legal advocate for the repressed citizens of many authoritarian regimes, primarily in Asia and Central and South America. He was formerly a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Scott also co-produced a documentary film about the kidnapped survivor of a military death squad massacre in a small Guatemalan village.

Scott was predeceased by his second wife of 20 years, Juliette Bennett. The class extends its deepest sympathies to his ex-wife and lifelong friend Christy Pennoyer as well as to his three daughters, Frances, Molly, and Kate; his two grandchildren, Angus and Phoebe; his colleagues; and to all those whose lives he touched.