Thomas H. Paine ’50

Tom died Aug. 16, 2016, in San Diego, Calif.

An Exeter graduate and son of a member of the Class of 1912, he majored in economics and belonged to Cloister. His article in The Daily Princetonian on the danger of U.S. pursuit of the Cold War so impressed Albert Einstein that he invited Tom for afternoon tea to discuss pacifism.

After graduation he began his career in economics, first with the Bureau of Labor Statistics and then with Hewitt Associates, where he became a national thought leader in employee benefits and compensation. The New York Times cited Tom on his flexible benefits program with American Can. He served on a committee to create a new pay system for Princeton’s non-academic staff. In the 1990s, he built teams to assist China in the privatization of state-owned industries and to help Hong Kong develop a retirement fund prior to China’s take-over.

He then retired, relocated to Napa Valley, and founded Vineyard 29, an estate cabernet sauvignon vineyard that became successful and grew to cult status. In 2000, he moved to Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., where he devoted his time to charity and academics.

He is survived by his wife, Teresa Ann Norton; three sons from an earlier marriage, including Thomas Jr. ’75; and five grandchildren, including Sarah ’08.