John majored in politics, played 150-pound football and lacrosse, and joined Tiger Inn. In 1941 he married Ruth Barnum, who died in 2002.
After getting a master’s of divinity degree at Union Theological Seminary, John served as a Navy chaplain in World War II. He was rector of Grace Church in Amherst, Mass., and dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Newark, N.J., prior to becoming dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass.
John declined becoming coadjutor of the Washington diocese because he felt his impact was greater working with students. Later John moved to New York as rector of St. James Church and, as he said, “to practice what I preach” by teaching English to school dropouts in Harlem.
John was president of the Episcopal House of Deputies for 10 turbulent years. A citation he once received said, “He can stand up in a stormy meeting and radiate peace.” John was a charter Princeton trustee for 20 years.
In 1976, John was elected bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. He retired in 1986.
He is survived by his sons, Thomas B. ’65 and Michael C. ’72; daughters Judith Klein and Sarah Bergeson; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. We join them in thanking God for this remarkable man.