W. Loeber Landau ’53

Loeber, one of our most brilliant members — class valedictorian, winner of four debating prizes, three English awards, and election to Phi Beta Kappa — died Sept. 1, 2014, at his Manhattan home. He would have observed his 83rd birthday Sept. 9.

A New Orleans native, he graduated from Newman High School. Loeber arrived at Princeton on Southern Railroad’s “The Southerner,” as did many classmates from the South, including Charlie Barham, Will Gregg, Jim Green, and Ned Slaughter. He lived in Brown Hall as a freshman and in 44 North West his senior year. He majored in the special program in the humanities and took his meals at Quadrangle Club. He wrote for the Nassau Lit, and belonged to the pre-law society and advertising forum.

While at Harvard Law School in 1954, he married Barbara Gordon, a Connecticut College student. He graduated summa cum laude and spent three years at the Pentagon in the office of the general counsel of the Air Force. His entire career was with New York City’s Sullivan & Cromwell law firm, where he concentrated on corporate, business, and securities law. He served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards.

Upon retiring, his life was centered on his treasured wife, Barbara; daughters Donna and Blair; son Gordon; and four grandchildren.