John died suddenly and unexpectedly Feb. 18, 2010, in Madison, Wis. While he had undergone heart surgery, he was generally in excellent health.
John came from West High School in Rockford, Ill. At Princeton he lived in a single during his last two years, but earlier had roomed with Scott Brooks, Gardiner Dodd, Jim Mahr, Charlie Dorsett, Jay Gerber, and Will Kosmas. He dined at Campus Club.
Friends relate that John was very conservative in his freshman year, recalling that he felt public schools should be abolished because they infringed on personal freedom. Evidently he did not remember this phase when reminded of it at a reunion — he had become very liberal. He prized his record collection and loved bridge and good music, particularly Ella Fitzgerald.
After graduation he worked with his father at a family radio station in Appleton, Wis. He then earned a chemistry degree from the University of Wisconsin and became a research chemist. He co-authored 30 technical papers with Dr. Lowell Hakin and continued working until last August, testing FDA-approved drugs.
While quiet and shy for his entire life, John was an avid cyclist and walker. The class extends its sympathy to his sister, Sara Woodford.