Phelps Dewey ’51

Phelps Dewey ’51, a newspaperman and book publisher, died on March 29, 2021, in Fort Bragg, California. He is survived by his four children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Phelps left Dartmouth in his sophomore year to pursue an opportunity in the newspaper business in the promotion department of TheSan Francisco Chronicle. He moved briefly in the 1960s to work for the Los Alamos Science Laboratory and The Chicago Daily News/Sun-Times, but returned to The Chronicle for the remainder of his career. His main focus was The Chronicle’s book division, which he ultimately served as president. He retired in 1996 as executive vice president of Chronicle Publishing Co. Phelps spent his retirement years in Covelo, California, near the Mendocino County Municipal Airport, where he flew his Piper Comanche well into his 80s. Other pleasures in his life included his dogs, skiing, sailing, swimming, and hiking. He was a passionate advocate for conservation.