Robert Del Tufo ’55

Born Nov. 18, 1933, in Newark, N.J., the childhood home he described as “an extraordinarily beautiful city with nice homes,” Del died March 2, 2016, of lung cancer.

He came to Princeton from Newark Academy. Del majored in English, wrote his thesis on James Gould Cozzens, and joined Cannon Club. Del played baseball and basketball and roomed at 111 Cuyler Hall with Hank Halligan, Bill Edwards, and Syd Prince.

After earning a law degree at Yale, Del began a remarkable career that included work as legal secretary to Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub of the New Jersey Supreme Court, tackling organized crime as U.S. attorney, creating the nation’s first state-level environmental prosecutor’s position, and forming the nation’s first statewide agency focused on combating hate crimes.

Pathologically modest, Bob let others talk about his accomplishments and achievements. Friends and colleagues said he was smart and mature in organization and strategy; a secure bellwether of integrity; an oracle and a muse, often whimsical and self-deprecating. Bob embodied a charm and eloquence that was hard to forget.

Bob concluded his career at New York’s Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and retired in 2014. He is survived by his wife, Katherine Nouri Hughes; four children; two stepchildren; and 10 grandchildren. He will be missed.