Walter Rumsey Skinner Jr. ’40 *41

After a prolonged period of suffering from diabetes complications, Rum died on Jan. 23, 2002. Preparing at St. Louis Country Day School, he followed his cousins E. Lemoine Skinner Jr. '36 and Claiborne Adams Skinner '38 to Princeton. Rum majored in chemical engineering, tied for Class of 1861 sophomore mathematics prize, and graduated with high honors and Phi Beta Kappa. He was on the cross-country and track teams, was Triangle costume manager, and was a member of Charter Club.

His career was spent in chemical research and engineering at Monsanto, R. W. Booker, and the Cupples Co. His interests were wide-ranging — astronomy, mathematics, photography. He wrote papers on general relativity, earthquakes, broad-leaf evergreens, and other scientific subjects. His calculations showed a different than accepted rate of spin on the electron, allowing him to calculate the corrections NASA rockets were going to have to make to reach their destinations — verified. Tennis and canoeing were hobbies.

To his sister, Elizabeth Smith, and his brother Stuart '43 we extend our sincere condolences.

The Class of 1940