John Eberhardt, ex-director of personnel and employee relations for the New Jersey Department of Human Services, died Feb. 2, 2010.

Originally from Montclair, N.J., he graduated from Mercersburg Academy.  

Jack was president of the Class of 1937 at the time of his death. He was a past member of the board of governors and vice president of the Central New Jersey-Eastern Pennsylvania Princeton Alumni Association and also a past member of Princeton’s Alumni Schools Committee.

After a stint in the script department of NBC, Jack served in the Army during World War II, entering active duty with the 112th Field Artillery, the last horse-artillery regiment in the United States. He later wrote The Old Grey Mare, a book describing this experience.

During combat service in Europe, he was with the 250th Field Artillery Battalion, attaining the rank of major and participating in five campaigns, during which the battalion was in combat for 297 straight days without relief and received not only France’s highest award for a foreign unit, but also a Presidential Citation — the highest U.S. unit award.  

In addition to serving as Department of Human Services director of personnel and employee relations for 28 years until his retirement in 1979, Jack also was for a time acting director of the state Division of Community and Professional Services.

Jack is survived by Elayne, his wife of 65 years; two sons and daughters-in-law, John S. Jr. and Kathleen, and David and Debra; four grandchildren, John S. III, Jason, Christina, and Tyler; a sister, Barbara; and a niece and nephew.

Undergraduate Class of 1937