John died Nov. 19, 2012, at a senior-care facility in Mission Viejo, Calif. Since 2008 his health had been an ongoing problem.
Before entering Princeton in the fall of 1946, John served 33 months of active duty in the Navy. He earned his degree from Princeton in 1950.
After graduation he joined Rike-Kumler, Dayton’s leading department store. John eventually became a buyer of men’s sportswear, which required extensive travel to Europe, California, and New York. While in Dayton he was president of the Princeton Alumni Club and was involved in real-estate developments.
In the 1960s, John got into the convenience-store business, initially in Arizona and then in Southern California, where he had a hand in 107 Tic Toc Markets. After most of them were sold to the U Totem chain, he owned and operated several Minute King Markets. During this time John owned a restaurant (Winner’s Circle) in Parker Dam, Ariz., but eventually, finding the commute each weekend to Newport Beach, Calif., too arduous, he sold it. While living in Newport Beach and Laguna Niguel, John participated in a series of Princeton Alumni Association activities. He retired from his business responsibilities in 1995.
John is survived by four sons and three grandchildren.