Roger E. Little ’59

Roger came to Princeton from McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C., graduating at the top of his class and receiving an award for excellence in scholarship. A member of Court Club at Princeton, he majored in physics and sang in the Chapel Choir and the Glee Club. He roomed with Bigger, Byrnes, R. Gardner, Murphy, and Stevenson. Following graduation, he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Roger had a double career, first as a physicist and later becoming an actuary. He excelled in both areas. As a physicist he concentrated his work in superfluid liquid helium, teaching at Long Beach State and then at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. His career shift to actuary parlayed into a chief actuary position with Gulf Life Insurance Co. and its successor. American General. While at Georgia Tech, Roger began dating secretary Wynette (Winnie) Wright and in 1972 they married. A son, Jeffrey, followed in 1979.

Roger retired from his actuary career in 2002 but never stopped learning, taking classes in diverse subjects, from organic chemistry to astronomy. A traveler, he and Winnie visited 48 of our 50 states and several foreign countries.

Roger died Oct. 1, 2024. He is survived by Winnie; their son, Jeffrey; and two grandchildren.