John was born April 28, 1934, in Mineola, N.Y., and died June 26, 2011, of complications following cardiac arrest in Pittsburgh, where he was visiting family.
John grew up in Rochester, N.Y., where he graduated in 1951 from Charlotte High School. At Princeton he majored in engineering. After a brief stint in the Army, John worked at Eastman Kodak, where he held a variety of management positions and had a distinguished career. He retired in 1995 as manager of motion-picture marketing and moved with his wife, Mary Sockman Spence, to Savannah Lakes Village in McCormick, S.C.
During his early career, John was a standout in the Rochester fast-pitch-softball industrial leagues, recording several no-hitters and a perfect game. An avid golfer, he recently achieved the golfer’s lifelong goal of “shooting his age” on the golf course.
John was active in Princeton’s alumni association, his church, and the improvement of public education in McCormick. Family, especially grandchildren, was important to John.
He is survived by Mary, his wife of 32 years; five children and stepchildren; and 12 grandchildren. To them all, the class extends its sympathy.