Warren Peter Musser ’48

Pete was born Dec. 15, 1926. He grew up in Harrisburg, Pa.; attended Admiral Farragut Academy; then was at Princeton for freshman and sophomore years. He graduated from Lehigh University in 1949 with a degree in industrial engineering. His family home was first in Wayne, Pa., and later in Devon, Pa.  

Pete was an entrepreneur and investment banker, first as founder-president of Musser and Co., a private-equity and venture-capital firm. Then, from 1953 to 1968 he founded and was chairman of successor firms, including Lancaster Corp., which became Safeguard Scientifics. With his three venture-capital funds he brought a number of companies to public offerings.  

He was a trustee of the Franklin Institute, a member of the board of overseers of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and founder of the Musser Center for Entrepreneurs at Lehigh University. In community affairs he was active in the United Way and other philanthropic and business groups.  

Pete died Nov. 25, 2019. He is survived by his companion, Mary Barton; his daughter, Joan M. Vaughan; his sons, Peter and Cooper Musser; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.