Robert E. Elberson ’50

Bob died peacefully Feb. 26, 2013, at his home in Charlotte, N.C.

Coming to Princeton from Choate, Bob sang in the Glee Club and was a member of Terrace. He graduated with honors in basic engineering. After earning an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1952, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Air Force. Following release from active duty in 1954, he returned to his hometown of Winston-Salem, N.C., for a position with Hanes Hosiery, where he launched the successful L’eggs brand. Subsequently, he became president and CEO of Hanes Corp., president and chief operating officer of Sara Lee in 1983, and vice chairman of Sara Lee Corp. in 1986.

After retiring in 1989, Bob focused his resources and time on his lifelong passion for philanthropic work and travel. He supported personal advancement by endowing scholarships at Salem (N.C.) College, a women’s liberal arts college, where he was a trustee for 15 years, and whose Fine Arts Center bears his name. He facilitated innovation and entrepreneurship through the nonprofit Reemprise Foundation he began in 2005.

We send our condolences to his daughter, Ann; son Charles; and three grandchildren.