Louis S. “Tom” Gimbel III passed away Sept. 26, 2022, in Red Bank after a short illness. He was 93. Tom was born March 22, 1929 in New York City to Louis and Elinor Gimbel Jr. He graduated from the New Lincoln School and was a 1951 graduate of Yale University. He later attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Tom also proudly served in the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio and in Wiesbaden, Germany.
After his time in the military and some time as a banker, Tom joined family-owned S. S. Steiner, Inc. His life’s work was building Hopsteiner into a world leader in the hops industry, with offices and operations in the U.S. and several countries. At his death, he remained its chairman and CEO.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Valerie Mary James Battine Gimbel; his three sons, Louis IV, Adam and James; their wives, Kristina, Alexandra and Megan; and five grandchildren, John, Nick, Richard, Annabelle and George. He is also survived by his younger brother Stinor but he was predeceased by his parents and his brother Nick.
Tom was an avid gardener, horseman, swimmer and tennis player. He played varsity polo at Yale and was a longtime member of the Monmouth and Essex county fox hunts. He was also a member of Ocean Beach Club, Seabright Lawn Tennis Club, Rumson Country Club, Knickerbocker Club, The Yale Club of New York City, and Racquet and Tennis Club. He was an Anglophile who treasured his in-laws and many friends in England. He enjoyed his many trips to Germany and time spent with his cousins, the von Ratibor and von Leutrum families.
A private celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Contributions in Tom’s memory can be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Monmouth Conservation Society, or Yale University. Memories and condolences may be shared at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
The article originally appeared in the October 6 – 12, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
