Richard R. McElroy ’52

Dick McElroy died Jan. 12, 1994, of complications from a severe respiratory infection, in the hospital, in his hometown, Union, N.J. More than most of us, Dick was aware of his own mortality. A brain tumor diagnosed in the late 1950s responded to experimental, high-dose X-ray treatment, but at the cost of his pituitary gland and endocrine system. His hormone levels were maintained for 30 years with oral and injected hormone therapy, until prostate cancer forced their discontinuation in the late 1980s. Dick's physicians noted that most of his adult life was "the gift of God and medical science."

Married to Paula Geiger in Nov. 1953, Dick joined Hospital Service Plan (later Blue Cross) of New Jersey, where he remained until his retirement in 1986. He was asst. v.p. for systems programming and management. Always a curious traveler, Dick used retirement to deepen his interest in birding, and also went rafting to archeological sites in the Southwest.

At Princeton, Dick joined Elm Club, and majored in politics; he was senior staff announcer for WPRU, and sang in the glee club. His roommates were Frank Carlucci and Tog Herbert.

Dick's wife, Paula, died of a heart attack in 1982; he is survived by his daughter Lee Ann Summers, his grandson Kevin; and a brother, Bruce, to whom we offer our deep condolences.