Vincent McGinnis ’71

We lost one of our most dynamic and charismatic class members when Mick McGinnis died of heart disease Nov. 4, 2019, in West Chester, Pa.

An accomplished athlete and actor, he came to Princeton from Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, Pa. At Princeton Mick majored in sociology and was a member of Cottage. He roomed with Twomey, Higgins, Hohf, Foucher, and Hauck in Little Hall senior year. He was a standout rugby and 150-pound football player, serving as co-captain and earning all-Ivy recognition in the latter.

Friends and teammates remember his personal warmth, unbridled love of life, and creative pursuit of fun. The basketball gym setup in Gauss remains a campus legend. He continued rugby post-graduation and treasured winning the New York 7’s tournament in 1976 with the alumni team.

After graduation, he returned to Philadelphia, founded Choice Seating Galleries, and spent his career in the custom furniture business. He married Melissa Delmonico in 1977. They had two children, Kara and Sean. Mick enjoyed driving his boat at the shore, skiing, dancing, cross-country jaunts, international ski trips, and cruises. He was especially fond of his summer in San Francisco with Dick Salmon and offshore East Coast sailing trips with the DiFedeles.

The class extends its sympathies to Melissa, Kara, Sean, grandson Carter, and other family and friends.