Walter F. Pettit ’40

Known to us as “Wig,” Walter died June 26, 2014, at his home in Piedmont, Calif. Raised in Princeton, he prepared at the Asheville School for Boys. At Princeton he majored in history, lettered in tennis, and ate at Elm Club. He roomed with Marshall (“Sherwood”) Forrest.

Following Princeton he served in the Navy Air Corps, emerging in 1945 as a lieutenant commander. After earning his law degree from Hastings College of Law, he practiced for more than 45 years at Pettit & Martin, retiring as a senior partner. He was a pioneer in government contract law and was awarded the American Bar Association’s Lifetime Achievement    Award in 2004.

A champion tennis and squash player, Wig spent a great deal of time in the civic and philanthropic communities in and around San Francisco. He was also active in the class, serving in many leadership positions over the years.

For 62 years he was married to the late Cherie Sutton. He is survived by three daughters, Anian Tunney, Lindsay Pettit, and Cherie Arkley; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his brother, William ’41; and a sister, Mary Funk.