Stephen Van R. Ulman ’54

Steve, son of Morrison Ulman 1922, died July 23, 2021. 

At The Hill School he was active in publications, debating, and sports management. At Princeton he majored in history and the American civilization program. He joined Colonial Club, wrote for The Daily Princetonian, and sailed with the Yacht Club — a lifelong enthusiasm.

Steve served as a first lieutenant in the Army from 1954 to 1956, and then earned a law degree at Harvard Law School.

He practiced law on Long Island, N.Y., for almost 50 years, first as associate, member, and managing attorney at Sprague, Dwyer, Aspland & Tobin in Mineola, N.Y., for 30 years. Then he joined Payne, Wood and Littlejohn in Glen Cove and Melville, N.Y., as partner and of counsel for 10 years. He retired in 2002 after three years of counsel with Humes & Wagner in Locust Valley, N.Y. 

Characterized as “a true gentleman of the old school,” he served his community in numerous ways, was the consummate family man, and enjoyed both competitive and casual sailing, walking his dog, raking leaves, and shoveling snow with his children. He often joked that “those with two l’s in their name were the rich and famous.”

Steve is survived by his wife, Martha; son Stephen ’89; daughter Cornelia; grandchildren Valerie, Abigail, Nathan, and Hannah ’24, and sister Katharine. A brother, Cornelius ’60, predeceased him.