Gilbert Lea, 95, of Vero Beach, FL died Sunday, May 4, 2008 at the VNA/Hospice House in Vero Beach.
Mr. Lea was born on December 16, 1912 in Philadelphia, PA and was a winter resident of Vero Beach since 1981 coming from Falmouth, ME.
He attended St. Pauls School in Concord, N.H. where he was captain of the football team. He went to Princeton University, class of 1936 where he played football with the team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation in 1933 and 1935. In 1944 he joined General Pattons Army. He commanded the 274th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.
Mr. Lea worked for Time, and Business Week magazines and then, in 1957, joined Ogilvy, Benson and Mather as Vice President, Assistant to the President, In 1966 he moved to Portland, Maine. He bought The Tower Publishing Company, which he ran until 1981.
He was President of the Pretty Brook Tennis Club for 17 years, on the Executive Committee of the Princeton Athletic Committee, Chairman of Annual Giving for Princeton in 1961-62; on the Executive Committee of the Princeton Alumni Counsel. He served on the Executive Committee of the Visiting Nurses Association of New York and the Executive Committee of the National Football Foundation.
In Maine, he became president of the Princeton Alumni Association; head of the American Cancer Society; and a trustee of the Governor Baxter School for The Deaf.
Surviving are his wife Phyllis Thaxter Lea, his daughter Ann Lea Fries and son Thomas Nalle Lea, his step-daughter Skye Aubrey and stepson James Aubrey, plus eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Services: A memorial service will take place in Maine at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA/Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.