William T. Shinn ’57

Bill died on June 6, 2001, in Richmond, Va., from complications from Parkinson's disease, which he had had for 25 years.

Entering Princeton at age 16 from Washburn H.S. in Minneapolis, he joined Tower Club and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Russian studies in the Woodrow Wilson School. He received a master's degree from Harvard in 1959 and also studied for a year at Moscow U.

Bill had a distinguished career as a diplomat, serving in the U.S. Foreign Service from 1960-93. His assignments took him to Poland, Germany, France, the U.S.S.R., and DC. He was a member of the U.S. delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT) 1971-73, served as deputy director of the NATO office, head of the Soviet desk, and U.S. Consul General in Leningrad (1982-83).

He also received the Foreign Service Distinguished Service Award. Bill regarded his profession's primary mission to be the achievement of peace and goodwill on earth.

To his daughter, Elisabeth Stigall, his son, Robert, his four grandchildren, and his sister, Ann, the class offers its deepest condolences. Contributions in Bill's name may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, PO Box 4777, New York, NY 10163.

The Class of 1957