L. Scott Bailey

Scott Bailey, former Princetonian and founder and publisher of Automobile Quarterly magazine, died at his home in the English Cotswolds where he lived since the late 1980s with his wife Peggy.

Scott Bailey and his wife Peg founded the journal, Automobile Quarterly (AQ) in New York in the spring of 1962. The hard cover magazine, with a horizontal format and no advertising, approached automobile history from a scholarly perspective, featuring exhaustively researched stories on individual marques, both prominent and obscure, motorsports, design, technology, and — most important — the influential personalities that shaped the automobile’s evolution. AQ also featured critical commentary on contemporary automotive topics, and informed speculation on future automotive trends. Writers included Ken Purdy, Karl Ludvigsen, Michael Lamm, and Griff Borgeson, whose stories were complemented by large-format photography and illustrations by noted automotive artists such as Bill Neale, James Allington, Yoshihiro Inomoto, David Kimble, Walter Gotschke, and Peter Helck; other contributors were prominent automotive personalities Enzo Ferrari, designer Howard “Dutch” Darrin, and John Fitch. AQ was reviewed in the New York Times as “the world’s most lavish magazine.”

In the early 1960s Scott commissioned Italian coachbuilder Nuccio Bertone to create an interpretation of the newly launched Ford Mustang in order to demonstrate that the storied Turin-based coachbuilders could execute relevant contemporary designs. The stunning result of this collaboration was exhibited at the 1965 New York International Automobile Show where the Bertone Mustang won “best of show” honors.

Automobile Quarterly was the first automotive publication to place a female editor, Beverly Rae Kimes, at the top of its masthead. In addition to her contributions, Kimes and other AQ authors supported Bailey’s expansion into books on automotive history, which eventually included over fifty books. AQ’s detailed histories on such marques included Ford, Chevrolet, Porsche, Buick, Cadillac, Packard, Auburn/Cord/Duesenberg, Corvette, including a pair of highly authoritative Corvette Restoration Guides. As a demonstration of AQ’s comprehensive automotive research and archives, General Motors commissioned AQ to compile its corporate history on the occasion of GM’s 75th anniversary.

Throughout Scott Bailey’s tenure, Automobile Quarterly documented not just the evolution of the automobile but also elevated automotive history to an unsurpassed level of scholarship. Through a combination of authoritative texts, detailed archival documentation, rich photography and lavish artwork, he created a collection of periodicals and books that continue to be highly sought after by automotive enthusiasts and collectors. In 1986 Scott and Peggy sold Automobile Quarterly to Columbia Broadcast System Publications.

Though the driving force behind the enterprise and its prodigious output, Scott seldom let his name surface on book jackets or author lists: he saw himself as one whose job was to get the best out of all around him. He promoted an AQ ethos of doing the job one way — without error — with style and great craftsmanship. The AQ impact and ethos that marked Scott’s tenure as founding editor and publisher have seldom been matched in automotive publishing. AQ’s output won numerous awards for design, editing, and writing. Recognitions for Bailey’s own work included: Thompson Products Museum Trophy and National AACA Award for outstanding restoration of a historic vehicle; Automotive Hall of Fame’s Distinguished Service Citation; Society of Automotive Historians Friends of the Automotive History Award; the Annual Award of the Society of Automotive Historians; and the Thomas McKean Award for historical research.

Scott Bailey was born in New York City and spent his childhood in and around Middletown, Ohio. He was an Eagle Scout, and joined the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1941. In the Second World War, Scott served on PT boats, an aircraft carrier, and submarines; he saw duty on ammunition convoys in the North Atlantic and in the Pacific, and he was awarded the Submarine Service Commendation Medal.

Scott attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and Phi Alpha Delta, and studied at the Chase School of Law in Cincinnati. At Miami he met Peggy, his life companion and partner in love and business throughout every moment of the next seven decades. They married in 1947 during one of the century’s worst blizzards and settled in upstate New York where Scott dedicated himself to giving back to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), serving as an executive for BSA and with Peggy, running a Scout camp at Lake Seneca. The BSA awarded him their Distinguished Service Medal in 1964.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Scott was Public Relations Counsel for Eastern Railroad Presidents Conference for Carl Byoir and Associates, and later with the American Rocket Society. At that time his interest in antique cars grew, and he became executive vice president, and director of public relations for the Antique Automobile Club of America and editor of The Antique Automobile Magazine. In 1958 he was a recipient of the Silver Anvil Award of the Public Relations Association for his performance in the field of transportation, especially for his work supporting railroads as they were challenged by highway development.

The next 25 years were focused on the creation and development of Automobile Quarterly. After the sale of AQ to CBS in 1986, Scott and Peggy settled in England, in the Cotswold Hills. At home in the village of Stanton and then in nearby Wood Stanway, Scott published two poetry books and worked to improve his skill as a painter of portraits.

Scott Bailey was an editor, painter, Scout, poet, sailor, publisher, mentor, and true romantic. He was proudest of the opportunities he found to help young people, often reflecting on the help and encouragement he received in his youth.

Scott Bailey is survived by his wife, Peggy; his daughter Meg; his son Douglas; and two grandchildren, Alexander and Hannah. He will be missed by the many he helped and supported to reach their goals.

———

Lou Ann Litton

Lou Ann Litton, a longtime resident of Lawrenceville, died at Potomac Homes Memory Care in Princeton on Monday, July 9 at the age of 77 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Lou Ann was born in Perkins, Okla., and grew up in Charleston W.V. She earned a Bachelors of Science in chemistry from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Following graduation she moved to New Jersey and was employed by Esso Research and Engineering Corporation (now Exxon Mobil) in the information division for nearly a decade. Her skills in science, chemistry, German, and French prepared her career as a writer and abstractor of technical journals and patents.

Following many years as a “super-mom” raising four children, she attended Mercer County Community College and received an associate’s degree in computer programming. She was then employed in full and part-time positions at Educational Testing Service, the Mercer County Court House, and in various volunteer organizations. She was a longtime parishioner at Trinity Episcopal Church in Princeton.

Lou Ann had many interests, including pottery and glass, bird watching, gardening, sewing, cooking, antiques, furniture refinishing, reading, and music. Her attention to detail enabled her to master these interests. During her junior high and high school years in Charleston, she became a highly accomplished cellist and was the youngest member of the semi-professional Charleston Symphony Orchestra. She continued to play in orchestras and chamber music groups until family demands limited her time to continue as a musician.

Lou Ann was a quiet-spoken, and even shy person, but especially in raising four active children, one look of her intense blue eyes and her particular facial expression produced instant results. During recent years she greatly enjoyed joining her husband, Jim, during many tours with the American Boychoir throughout the United States and in Europe and Asia. Following retirement they enjoyed several trips to Europe until the progress of Alzheimer’s made travel impossible.

She met her future husband, James (Jim) Litton in the seventh grade and they were married nearly 55 years ago. Before returning to New Jersey 44 years ago, they lived in Southport, Conn., Canterbury, England, and Indianapolis, Ind.

Lou Ann was predeceased by her parents, Ermal Lee (Ed) and Irene Lily Hall; and her sister, Judith Kay Dodd. She is survived by her husband, James Howard; her children and their spouses, Bruce Edward and Patricia Litton of Bedminster, Deborah Ann and James Purdon of Maplewood, David Allan Litton and Carol Dingeldey of West Hartford, Conn., and James Richard (Rick) and Alysia Litton of Sea Girt, N.J.; and grandchildren, Kiersten Blue and James Kyle Litton and Matthew Blakely Litton. She is also survived by her sister and brother in law, Betty and William Ray; and by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Arrangements were provided by Mather Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. Visiting hours took place on Friday, June 13. In thanksgiving for the life of Lou Ann, a Requiem Eucharist was celebrated at Trinity Episcopal Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, on July 14. A reception in the church social hall followed.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Trinity Church Princeton, Trinity Cathedral, 801 West State Street, Trenton; or to the American Boychoir School, 19 Lambert Drive, Princeton.

———

Frances G. Frankel

Frances G. “Fran” Frankel, 85, passed away Monday, July 16, 2012.

Born in Mount Vernon, N.Y., daughter of Isaac Pinsker and Mollie (Lippin); and widow of Max Gershon Frankel, PhD.; she is survived by her daughter, Elka R. Frankel of Princeton and her husband, David Eden; her son, Joel A. Frankel of Chicago and his spouse Helen Rosenberg; grandchildren, Layla G. Frankel and Elan S. Frankel; and numerous cousins.

Fran met Max Gershon at Brandeis Camp in Pennsylvania after World War II, and they married in 1948, after which Fran moved to Norman, Okla. There, Max Gershon was attending the University of Oklahoma, where she also took courses.

After her husband’s graduation, the couple traveled to Israel, where they lived on a kibbutz for close to a year. There they met and were befriended by Golda Meir, whose son the young couple had met previously in the U.S. After they returned to Oklahoma, they had their two children, and went on to Denver, Co., and St. Louis, Mo., where Max Gershon attended graduate school, eventually receiving his PhD in special education. After that, the family lived in Silver Spring, Md., while Dr. Frankel taught at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. In 1968 the family moved to Princeton when Dr. Frankel accepted a position at Trenton State Teacher’s College (now the College of New Jersey) and later taught at Kean College.

Soon after arriving in Princeton, Fran worked at the Phillip Morris Agency in New York City, and a couple years later began working at Princeton University in a number of positions, eventually ending up at the Hillel Jewish Student Association (in the old Murray-Dodge Building), and later on, as alumni coordinator at the Center for Jewish Life at Princeton, where even after retiring she continued as a volunteer into her 80’s.

Active in Community Without Walls House 5, and the local chapter of Jewish Women International, she was a member of Hadassah and the Jewish Center of Princeton.

An avid gardener, she had many friends from all walks of life in Princeton, from the University, the Jewish community, and the neighborhood, who would all meet and mix during her annual summer backyard picnic at her home on Grover Avenue.

Funeral services and burial will take place on Thursday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge, N.J.

Arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Road, Ewing Township.

———

Gerold M. Lauck

Gerold McKee Lauck, 95, a resident of Moorings Park Retirement Community, Naples, Fla., died July 14, 2012.

He attended the Lawrenceville School and received a BA degree from Yale University in 1938. He was a member of both of their golf teams.

In 1943 he received his wings and commission in the Army Air Corps and was made a pilot instructor to aviation cadets in Greenwood, Miss. A year later he was assigned as a B-25 pilot in the 70th Bombardment Squadron of the 13th Air Force, and flew 50 missions in the Pacific Theater Campaign.

After World War II, he moved to Princeton and retired as a Supervisor of Accounts in 1975 from N.W. Ayer & Son, America’s oldest advertising agency.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Felix Lauck; and is survived by his second wife, Marian McLeod Lauck. He is also survived by his son, Anthony G. Lauck of Warren, Vt.; and grandchildren, Peter M. Lauck and Gregory G. Lauck of Wellesley, Mass.

His memberships included Trinity-by-the Cove Episcopal Church, Hole-in-the-Wall Golf Club, the United States Seniors Golf Association, and Sons of the Revolution.

Funeral Services in Princeton will be private. Cremation entrusted to The Beachwood Cremation Society, 4444 Tamiami Tr., Naples, Fla.

———

Dorothy C. Franklin

Dorothy Carll Franklin, a former long-time Princeton resident, passed away peacefully at her home in Mantoloking, New Jersey on Saturday, July 14, 2012.

She was born in Trenton on January 25, 1925 to the late Julia and Charles Monford Carll of Princeton. She is the wife of the late Dr. Charles Montanye Franklin of Princeton and Vero Beach, Fla. Dr. Franklin was the physician for the Princeton University football team.

She is survived by her daughter, Dorothy Pickering Bossidy of Bay Head, N.J.; her son, Donald Albert Pickering of London, England, a grandson, Stuart Charles Carll Pickering; son in law, Bruce Haig Bossidy; niece, Judy English Power; and stepson, Charles Montanye Franklin. Her sister, Julia Carll English of Princeton predeceased her.

She was a member of the Bay Head Yacht Club, The Nassau Club, The Present Day Club, The Princeton Club of New York and the Moorings Club of Vero Beach, Fla., where she was a long-time resident.

“Dottie”, as she was known to friends, was an accomplished artist. She was also an avid traveler and gained inspiration for her watercolor paintings from her extensive travels around the world. She will be greatly missed by her loving family and many friends.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Bay Head on Saturday, July 21, at 11 a.m. The service will be officiated by The Reverend Neil Turton.

For further information or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com.

———