John Rhome, whom we knew as “Otto,” died Aug. 28, 2011, in Massachusetts.
John was born in Loch Arbour, N.J., and came to Princeton from Asbury Park High School. John graduated from Princeton as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He majored in math, was on the 150-pound football team, participated in many class and club sports teams, and joined Dial Lodge.
John graduated from Harvard Law School in 1939 and began a 45-year law career at Hutchins & Wheeler in Boston, for which he was recognized in the 1983 edition of Best Lawyers in America. He also served as an officer in the Navy during World War II. John was active in local Massachusetts politics, serving on planning boards, as a selectman, and in many other roles. He also was an active member of many nonprofit boards devoted to the community, the environment, and children, such as the Red Feather Campaign, a forerunner of the United Way. In his free time, John enjoyed figure skating, tennis, and dancing with his wife, Judy.
John was predeceased by a son, Peter Fairman Rhome, and a sister, Gwenyth Rhome. He is survived by his wife, three children, three stepchildren, and 12 grandchildren.