Stephen Erwin Seidel ’52

While regaining his strength after a mild heart attack, Stephen "Steph" Seidel died peacefully at his home in Nashotah, Wis., July 18, 2003.

Steph spent much of his life overcoming massive challenges. He entered Princeton with the Class of '51, but left upon the death of his father during his freshman year. A crash course in tannery management enabled him to develop the skills needed to run the business his father had cofounded just four years earlier.

Steph returned to Princeton to major in basic engineering, sing in the Tigertones, and join Tower Club, where he was vice president. But in the spring of 1952, he lost the vision in his left eye, and soon experienced a detachment in his right eye. Through his personal trauma, however, he married, had four children, and maintained the vitality of the Seidel Tanning Corp. A close friendship with his eye surgeon in Boston led Steph to endow and support the Schepens Eye Institute in Boston.

Steph is survived by his wife, Kathleen; sons Alexander, Frederick, and Adam; daughter Christiana; and four grandchildren. To them, we extend our deepest condolences.

The Class of 1952