John Hill Wilson died Aug. 12, 2010, after a long fight with lung cancer. He was 76.
John Hill was a great classmate and a great man: a magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton, a Baker Scholar at Harvard Business School, and co-head of investment banking at Morgan Stanley, where he worked for 33 years. He was brilliant — a born leader who was boundlessly energetic and cheerful with a robust sense of humor and great common sense. He cared intensely for his family and friends.
His accomplishments in the not-for-profit world transcended his outstanding success in business. He served as chairman of the Environmental Defense Fund, the Union Settlement Association in East Harlem, Greenwich (Conn.) Hospital, and Brunswick School in Greenwich; as an advisory board member of the Princeton Environmental Institute; as trustee of the Doris Duke Foundation; and as co-founder and director of Classroom Inc. Of enduring importance to ’56, he also was a founding trustee of ReachOut 56-81. His work for and generosity to these organizations changed the world immeasurably for the better.
At Princeton, John Hill was a member of Cottage Club, captain of the rugby team, and a member of the track team.
To his widow, Sandy; their four children; 10 grandchildren; and his brother, Tom ’54, we extend our deepest sympathy.