Graeme L. Flanders (1944-2026)

About Graeme

Graeme died at his home on June 23, 2026.  Here is the link to his obit in the Martha's Vinyard Gazette.

Graeme was born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard. He graduated from Tabor Academy, in Marion, Mass, where he was on the football and basketball teams and was editor of the school yearbook.

At Princeton, he majored in history, belonged to Tiger Inn, served in Navy ROTC, and wrote his senior thesis on Theodore Roosevelt. He excelled as goalie on the lacrosse and hockey teams.

After graduation, Graeme served four years in the Navy (aviation), reaching the rank of lieutenant, and earned a master’s degree in Russian studies at Georgetown University. He had a career in finance and in guiding charitable organizations before returning to Matha’s Vineyard.

In retirement, he could be found driving a truck, tractor, or boat; building stone walls; or laboring at his workbench.

He is survived by his wife Judith, daughter Amy Harris, sons Jed and Nathan, and four granddaughters. The Class sends its condolences to all of them. 

Nassau Herald

Classmate Tributes and Memorials

Bill Young:

Graeme and I first met in high school where I introduced my younger and only sister, Judie, to Graeme. They dated into their 20’s and were then married for 60 years. Graeme and I were also roommates for a year in high school and roommates for sophomore year at Princeton. Noteworthy, that I first married my sister’s roommate and, for fun, I would truly say that we had switched roommates. Graeme’s son and daughter, Ned and Amy, and their families were always an important part of Graeme’s life.  Early interests included surfing, buying a sports car and fixing up a vintage car. I have spent many fun holidays and vacations together with him over the years. His exceptional athleticism in lacrosse and hockey has already been noted and so has his quiet nature. Graeme’s steady presence was always appreciated. He was focused and disciplined in his career…serving in the Navy Air overseas, a banking career as an investment advisor for non profit organizations. He chose to retire early and move to Martha’s Vineyard, his childhood home where his extended family had lived for many generations. Graeme was a dedicated, well organized steward of his property….his heartfelt work including building stone walls, time on his tractor mowing grass and managing his property in sustainable ways. He loved the outdoors. Over the years he also enjoyed boating, fishing, windsurfing, sailing, scalloping, his work shop and time with his dog and cat. Graeme wished to be remembered simply.

Mike Spence:

Graeme was a terrific team mate and a very good goalie.  But he was even better at Lacrosse as a goalie.  He was second team all American in 1966.

Jim Mays:

I played varsity hockey alongside him. We were both goalies. He was better than me. He was a fine athlete.  

Mike Peterman:

Marty Eichelberger '67:

John Baker '67:

I was thinking of Graeme last month when Princeton won the lacrosse championship...I played four seasons with dear Graeme, two hockey and lacrosse. He was a strong quiet leader and wonderful leader along with your classmate Bobby Mueller, also All-Ivy and All-American. After we made a mistake, Graeme saved our ass over and over again but would just say it was his job.  After I ashamedly scored an "own goal" my captain gave me a hug.  As a member of the lass of '67, I lost track of Graeme after graduation. A leader by quiet example and a very hard worker.

Walter Stockman:

I played as one of the crease defenseman on the 1966 lacrosse team, so I had a lot of connection/interplay with Graeme as the goolie.  Mostly, I remember that he was by far the very best part of our defense and really deserved a better support group.  Of course, George Weiksner, who is copied here also played on the defense of the 66 team.  Nelson Hendler, also copied was also a goalie on this team.

I also remember that Graeme was very instrumental in “beating on” in 1966 of Dick Pershing who was Yale’s “crease attackman”.  My memory about that is still very clear, because it was “Yale” and because I had gone to prep school with Pershing and there was a considerable rivalry between the people and the teams.  Pershing was the grandson of the famous General Black Jack Pershing and Dick Pershing later was a Lieutenant in Vietnam who was kill in action.

And, you know that Bobby Mueller, long time head of the FBI, was the Princeton crease attackman on the 1966 Princeton lacrosse team.

Isaac Hall:

Graeme and I both came to Princeton as what you might call athletes who played in defense positions. Graeme was the goalie for the Lacrosse team. I was a defenseman on the Hockey team. But Graeme was much more. He was the captain of the 1966 lacrosse team.  He was also Second Team All American as the lacrosse goalie. If that wasn’t enough, Graeme was the winner of the Higginbotham Award in Varsity Lacrosse in 1966, which is awarded annually to that member of the Princeton varsity lacrosse team who by outstanding play, distinguished sportsmanship and gentlemanly influence has best exemplified the qualities of John Edwards Higginbotham '39, captain of the ‘39 varsity lacrosse team. Graeme and our classmate Bob Mueller played together on the Lacrosse team.

I got to know Graeme most fully when he also became the goalie for our hockey team, lettering in two seasons, in 1964-1965 and 1965 – 1966, while also playing goalie for the lacrosse team, during a different season in each of those years. When Graeme agreed to join our team as a hockey goalie I, along with other members of our hockey team, were able to witness a most remarkable and admirable transformation. So far as I know, Graeme had never before played hockey or played goalie for a college hockey team like Princeton’s. Having played lacrosse goalie gave him some transferrable skills. Graeme was game and more than up to the task. Soon enough he was our starting goalie – handling shots with finesse from linemen from BU, BC, Cornell and other strong hockey schools of our time. We were in awe of his ability to play on our team as a hockey goalie during our winter season and then to return to the lacrosse team in the spring as the lacrosse team’s goalie. 

I am saddened to hear of Graeme’s passing. In time we two icemen had become men of Islands – he living on Martha’s Vineyard and me residing on Maui – neither place where hockey skills can be honed but both places where fond memories of Graeme endure.

John DeYoung, Jr.:

Bill Hardy '65:

Thanks for keeping this old fart (as Ferris would say about himself) in the loop. Graeme and Judy were friends over the years. We went to the Vineyard in the early fall for quite a few years straight. Getting together with them was always something we looked forward to. Looking at John’s ’65 team picture brought memories. Some are missing, but many are not. My wife and I would see Bob Casciola yearly when we visited our son in Phoenix. Unfortunately he died a couple of years ago and his wife followed him not too long after he died.

Gord Gladman '67:

So sorry to hear of Graeme's passing. Had the honour of playing 2 seasons with Graeme and I was amazed by his quick adaptation to hockey. His natural athletic ability and dedicated determination enabled him to become a varsity regular in spite of his very limited experience on the ice. The attached article from The Daily Princetonian (Mar 18/66)  highlights his achievement in becoming a hockey goalkeeper.

Jim Parmentier:

I encountered Graeme in a hardware store in Bristol, Rhode Island in the mid-90's when Beth and I kept a boat in nearby Bristol. He recognized a '66 shirt I was wearing, and introduced himself. We talked a bit, and I invited him to come sailing with us, either then or at some later date. but he demurred. He grew up on Martha's Vineyard. He was in Tiger Inn and we knew several people in common both on the island and on the campus. He was interested in sailing, but he had family responsibilities and, despite some phone exchanges over that summer, we never found the opportunity to spend time together. He seemed like a nice person. I'm sorry I let the connection fade.

The Daily Princetonian:

The Prince published Hockey Goalie: Solitude in the Cage, a long article about Graeme, in the March 18, 1966 edition.

If you have photos, information, or memories that you wish to share, please send them to the '66 Memorial Team (66_MemorialTeam@GoogleGroups.com). We'll add them to this page.