HERBERT CAMP

CAMP--Herbert L. Herb Camp, age 86, died on October 8, 2025, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Herb was among the best educated men in America in his day. At 10, he was sent to board at the Fay School in Massachusetts, then to Deerfield Academy. After his high school graduation, Herb enrolled in his beloved Williams College and, four years later, he applied to law school, flipping a coin to choose between Harvard and Yale. Harvard won, but shortly after Herb arrived on campus and unpacked, he picked up his golf clubs and asked where he could find the golf course. Hearing that Harvard didn't have one, Herb packed his car again and drove to New Haven. Following law school at Yale, Herb landed his dream job at Cravath, clerking for one year at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals before joining the firm. He ultimately decamped to Donovan Leisure, but returned to Cravath 12 years later as a partner, eventually becoming head of the tax department. The great tragedy of Herb's life was the death of his only child, Geoffrey, in a lacrosse accident at boarding school. Herb and his first wife, Sarah (Sally), were bereft. In his last years, Herb's only regret over his growing memory loss was that dementia had made him forget to think of Geoffrey every day. Perhaps because of this great loss, Herb became a favorite of children. He loved their antics, he told them jokes and, for his biggest trick, he wiggled his ears. Dogs felt the same about Herb and he about them. He had many during the course of his life, and was devoted to their entertainment and care. Public service was a big part of Herb's life, including his longtime board leadership of the Fay School, the Ardsley Country Club, and Volunteers of America. Although he never shot a hole-in-one at the club (to his lasting regret), when he was chosen as its president his first act was to break the club's race barrier by convening the board to elect the club's first black member. He saved the club itself from ruin by insisting on adequate fire insurance coverage not long before a massive fire struck. At VOA, one of the largest providers of low-income housing in New York, Herb was the longest serving board member including two stints as board chair. Apart from golfing and dogs, Herb's passion in life was wine. He became a connoisseur, building a wine collection for the Ardsley Country Club that he believed had no rival in the New York metropolitan area. Herb's friendships are legend, including a friend he had known since fifth grade and lifelong friends from Williams and Yale Law -- one of whom called him a "Camp-o-crat," a play on Herb's aristocratic background. He was close to his two nephews, George and John Camp, and to his niece, Liz Camp. They were with him in his last days. George helped care for Herb throughout his final summer, when Herb's memory loss was advanced. Herb is survived by his wife, Robyne, whom he met 28 years ago during Robyne's first year in law school after her nearly 30-year career in corporate finance. On their first date, both thought about marriage; on the second date, they agreed that marriage was where they were headed, and from that day they were never apart. Robyne suffered a cerebral hemorrhage just one month later, but Herb was undeterred. He enthusiastically did most of the pre- market cleanup of Robyne's apartment himself, keen to see it sold quickly so they could continue their life together. Contributions can be made in Herb's memory to the Volunteers of America- Greater New York www.voa-gny.org Services will be held in Florida and New York.