Philip Ward Leighton ’53 died on May 19, 2007, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine.

Born on November 23, 1928, in Houlton, he prepared for college at Gardiner High School and, following his graduation there, served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1948, attaining the rank of petty officer third class.After studying at Ricker Junior College, he entered Bowdoin and became an active member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Following his graduation in 1953, he was a salesman with the State Mutual Life Insurance Company in Portland. In 1989, he retired as a sales manager. In 1984, he was awarded the National Salesperson of the Year Award. He was president of the Augusta Country Club and for many years was a member of the Purpoodock Golf Club in Cape Elizabeth. He was also for some years a director of the Kennebec Valley Health Planning Council. He was married in 1953 to Patricia Higgins, who survives him, as do three sons, Peter Leighton of Naples,Timothy Leighton of Hallowell, and Kerry Leighton of Augusta; a daughter, Polly Darasz of Gorham; seven grandchildren; and a brother, Richard Leighton of Gardiner.