Rand Albert Mirante
1948-2025
As a boy growing up in New Jersey, Rand loved nature walks and reading about animals, aspiring to be a zookeeper when he grew up. He was an especially accomplished Cub Scout. At a young age he began his abiding interest in military history, collecting toy soldiers and arranging them in elaborate battles in the backyard. His Uncle Roger Sammon inspired a lifelong fascination with the Napoleonic Era.
Following his father, Albert Mirante '37 to Princeton, Rand studied international politics at the Woodrow Wilson School and was a member of Charter Club with dear friend Shawn Tully. He graduated in the Class of 1970. In 1974, he received his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He
served in the United States Army Reserves for six years.
As an Associate at Hunton & Williams Law Firm in Richmond, Virginia, Rand met his two lifelong friends, Tom Crocker and Allen Barringer. Rand was a proud Godfather to Allen’s daughter, Laura Barringer, and to Tom’s son, Edward Crocker. Rand served as a staff attorney for Potomac Electric Power Company in Washington, DC. As a young volunteer, Rand wrote position papers for Sen. Bill Bradley's campaign.
He went on to become a Vice President and Associate General Counsel for McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., responsible for antitrust counseling and compliance, complex commercial contract negotiations, acquisitions and divestitures, and pre-publication libel reviews. He was the recipient of the 1990 Corporate Achievement Award. Rand continued to work with McGraw-Hill Legal as an outside consultant for many years, assisting with a significant number of contract negotiations with U.S. and foreign customers.
In 1983, Rand married Christine Bottomley Mirante and in 1987 they welcomed their daughter Alexandra Tarleton Mirante. He was a devoted, loving husband and father and relished time spent with his family.
Rand began a new career with his beloved Princeton University, as a Senior Associate Director of Annual Giving in Princeton University’s Office of Advancement. He traveled extensively for work, including Hong Kong and Austria. He cultivated innumerable lifelong relationships over the course of soliciting and empowering alumni stewardship to the University for 33 years. He was made an honorary member of ten Princeton University classes after working with each of them on major Reunion development campaigns.
As a University Lecturer in the Princeton University Writing Program, Rand proposed and taught "Treason: from Henry V to John Walker Lindh" a highly-popular writing seminar amongst freshmen, for five semesters. He took great pride in hearing of his students’ continued developments and successes.
Rand was the author of Medusa's Head: The Rise and Survival of Joseph Fouché, Inventor of the Modern Police State (2014) as well as noteworthy articles published in The Journal of the American Revolution. He gave talks and led tours on the 1776-77 Revolutionary War campaign to Princeton alumni, federal judges, and George Washington’s own descendants at the Princeton Battlefield. He was an impassioned supporter of the American Battlefield Trust and the preservation of battlefields. Rand was a tour host and featured speaker on a variety of topics ranging from the fall of New France to the Berlin Airlift on Princeton University’s Alumni Association’s “Princeton Journeys” trips on the St. Lawrence, Danube, and Elbe Rivers and to Normandy. He was a fascinating speaker on these and other topics and was featured on various podcasts.
Together with Chris, Rand was involved with the conservation and education initiatives for the Watershed Institute in Pennington, New Jersey. One of his great joys was supporting Princeton Men’s Lacrosse – going to games at Sherrerd Field (named for his friend John J.F. “Jay” Sherrerd) and beyond with friends, nearly each time with his fellow classmate, colleague and dear friend, Rear Admiral (Ret.) H. K. Unruh as well as Sam McCleery by his side. In 1999, Rand and Chris were awarded the Beth Tortolani Memorial Cup for distinguished service to Princeton Men’s Lacrosse.
Though his initial childhood dreams of zookeeping didn’t come to formal fruition, he was a devoted friend to his four Welsh Springer Spaniels and enjoyed long walks with them along the Carnegie Lake tow path, Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies Woods, and the Princeton Battlefield.
Rand especially enjoyed British humor and history, from Monty Python and Fawlty Towers to The Rest is History podcasts. Like his mother, Irma Mirante, for whom he was the caregiver in her later years, Rand was an avid lifelong reader, always ready to share a book as a recommendation, loan or gift. Generous in spirit, ever-curious and kind, Rand was a treasured friend to many, including his Princeton classmates and cousins.
Rand was predeceased by parents Albert and Irma Mirante. He is survived by Christine, Alexandra, his sister Edith and brother-in-law John, sister-in-law Anne Louise, niece Madeline, nephew Philip, and many cousins.
A memorial service will be held at The Princeton University Chapel on Thursday, January 15 at 1:30p.m., with a reception to follow at The Nassau Club.
Donations in Rand's memory may be made to the American Battlefield Trust and Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK).
1948-2025
As a boy growing up in New Jersey, Rand loved nature walks and reading about animals, aspiring to be a zookeeper when he grew up. He was an especially accomplished Cub Scout. At a young age he began his abiding interest in military history, collecting toy soldiers and arranging them in elaborate battles in the backyard. His Uncle Roger Sammon inspired a lifelong fascination with the Napoleonic Era.
Following his father, Albert Mirante '37 to Princeton, Rand studied international politics at the Woodrow Wilson School and was a member of Charter Club with dear friend Shawn Tully. He graduated in the Class of 1970. In 1974, he received his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He
served in the United States Army Reserves for six years.
As an Associate at Hunton & Williams Law Firm in Richmond, Virginia, Rand met his two lifelong friends, Tom Crocker and Allen Barringer. Rand was a proud Godfather to Allen’s daughter, Laura Barringer, and to Tom’s son, Edward Crocker. Rand served as a staff attorney for Potomac Electric Power Company in Washington, DC. As a young volunteer, Rand wrote position papers for Sen. Bill Bradley's campaign.
He went on to become a Vice President and Associate General Counsel for McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., responsible for antitrust counseling and compliance, complex commercial contract negotiations, acquisitions and divestitures, and pre-publication libel reviews. He was the recipient of the 1990 Corporate Achievement Award. Rand continued to work with McGraw-Hill Legal as an outside consultant for many years, assisting with a significant number of contract negotiations with U.S. and foreign customers.
In 1983, Rand married Christine Bottomley Mirante and in 1987 they welcomed their daughter Alexandra Tarleton Mirante. He was a devoted, loving husband and father and relished time spent with his family.
Rand began a new career with his beloved Princeton University, as a Senior Associate Director of Annual Giving in Princeton University’s Office of Advancement. He traveled extensively for work, including Hong Kong and Austria. He cultivated innumerable lifelong relationships over the course of soliciting and empowering alumni stewardship to the University for 33 years. He was made an honorary member of ten Princeton University classes after working with each of them on major Reunion development campaigns.
As a University Lecturer in the Princeton University Writing Program, Rand proposed and taught "Treason: from Henry V to John Walker Lindh" a highly-popular writing seminar amongst freshmen, for five semesters. He took great pride in hearing of his students’ continued developments and successes.
Rand was the author of Medusa's Head: The Rise and Survival of Joseph Fouché, Inventor of the Modern Police State (2014) as well as noteworthy articles published in The Journal of the American Revolution. He gave talks and led tours on the 1776-77 Revolutionary War campaign to Princeton alumni, federal judges, and George Washington’s own descendants at the Princeton Battlefield. He was an impassioned supporter of the American Battlefield Trust and the preservation of battlefields. Rand was a tour host and featured speaker on a variety of topics ranging from the fall of New France to the Berlin Airlift on Princeton University’s Alumni Association’s “Princeton Journeys” trips on the St. Lawrence, Danube, and Elbe Rivers and to Normandy. He was a fascinating speaker on these and other topics and was featured on various podcasts.
Together with Chris, Rand was involved with the conservation and education initiatives for the Watershed Institute in Pennington, New Jersey. One of his great joys was supporting Princeton Men’s Lacrosse – going to games at Sherrerd Field (named for his friend John J.F. “Jay” Sherrerd) and beyond with friends, nearly each time with his fellow classmate, colleague and dear friend, Rear Admiral (Ret.) H. K. Unruh as well as Sam McCleery by his side. In 1999, Rand and Chris were awarded the Beth Tortolani Memorial Cup for distinguished service to Princeton Men’s Lacrosse.
Though his initial childhood dreams of zookeeping didn’t come to formal fruition, he was a devoted friend to his four Welsh Springer Spaniels and enjoyed long walks with them along the Carnegie Lake tow path, Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies Woods, and the Princeton Battlefield.
Rand especially enjoyed British humor and history, from Monty Python and Fawlty Towers to The Rest is History podcasts. Like his mother, Irma Mirante, for whom he was the caregiver in her later years, Rand was an avid lifelong reader, always ready to share a book as a recommendation, loan or gift. Generous in spirit, ever-curious and kind, Rand was a treasured friend to many, including his Princeton classmates and cousins.
Rand was predeceased by parents Albert and Irma Mirante. He is survived by Christine, Alexandra, his sister Edith and brother-in-law John, sister-in-law Anne Louise, niece Madeline, nephew Philip, and many cousins.
A memorial service will be held at The Princeton University Chapel on Thursday, January 15 at 1:30p.m., with a reception to follow at The Nassau Club.
Donations in Rand's memory may be made to the American Battlefield Trust and Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK).
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