Deceased April 9, 1976

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In Memory

On April 9, 1976, Paul Wise died in a skiing accident in the French Alps. At the time of his death, Paul was the chief attorney for the Columbia Broadcasting System in Europe. He resided in Paris. According to the newspaper reports of the accident, Paul died in a most tragic way. An experienced skier and mountain climber, Paul and two friends had hired a guide for a four-day cross-country trip. On the second day, the guide fell into a crevasse. Then, while Paul and his companions were attempting a rescue, a ledge gave away, and Paul fell to his death. A helicopter and rescue crew brought out the guide alive and recovered Paul’s body.

Before settling in France, Paul had twice studied in that country—first as an exchange student to Marcellin from Raynor High School in Pennsylvania, and then to the Sorbonne during his junior year at Amherst. At Amherst Paul was a member of Delta Upsilon.

After Amherst, Paul obtained his law degree from Columbia. There he was editor-in-chief of the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law. From Columbia he spent a summer at the Hague School of International Law. Then he joined the Coudert Brothers law firm of Paris. During his five years with Coudert, Paul represented the company throughout Europe and Africa. In 1975 he joined CBS.

He was formerly married to Jean Winter (Smith ’66). Surviving Paul are his parents, Paul and Charlotte Wise of Charlestown, Pa., and a sister, Charlotte Carfrey of Naperville, Ill. To all his relatives and friends, the class extends its belated sympathy.