Jack Mortenson ’43

Jack died March 17, 2017, in Walnut Creek, Calif., after a long illness. He was 95.

He came to Princeton from Lincoln High School in Grandview, Wash., where he was salutatorian of his class. While at Princeton he was on the track team, a member of Prospect Club, and an engineering major.

Jack served as a flight instructor in B-25s from 1942 until 1945. He and his wife, Doris, returned to Princeton, where he completed his degree in mechanical engineering in 1947.

Jack worked in oil refineries in New Jersey for a time and then joined Union Oil Co. He served in maintenance and administration and was manager of the refineries in Los Angeles and Joliet, Ill.

After retirement he became manager of Clean Bay, where he made use of his skills in the prevention and cleanup of oil spills.

Jack was a strong supporter of Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Concord, Calif., where he taught Sunday Bible classes for many years.

Jack and Doris, his wife of 72 years, had 10 children. One son died in infancy. He is survived by Doris, nine children, 17 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.