Van Santvoord Merle-smith Jr. ’40

Pat died in Bethlehem June 1, 2003. He would have liked the sound of that, even if it was Bethlehem, Pa.

He prepared at The Hill School. At Princeton he majored in geology. Pat participated in the Cane Spree and was a member of varsity crew, and the ski, yacht, Triangle, and Colonial clubs. He was regimental commander of ROTC.

During WWII, as a lieutenant colonel, he served as an aide to Gen. Patton in the European theater. He was decorated with the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star. After the war, Pat taught at St. Paul's School and was headmaster at Foxcroft. He received a master's from Columbia and a B.D. from Union Theological Seminary.

While assistant minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Oyster Bay, N.Y., Pat's book, The Village of Oyster Bay, was published. He then moved to Bethlehem, where he became chaplain at Moravian Academy. He was active on many boards, and returned to Princeton to conduct memorial services.

His classmates wish to express sincere condolences to Kitty, his wife of 57 years; stepson Richard Combs Jr.; sons Van S. III, Edmund, Grosvenor, and Barton; daughter Katherine; and 22 grandchildren.

The Class of 1940