Joel Benjamin Johnson ’32

Joel Benjamin Johnson of Newfane, Vt., died peacefully July 8, 2007, in Townshend, Vt. He was 97.

Born in Kuling, China, Joel grew up with his missionary parents, three brothers, and a sister. He attended Kuling American School and Princeton High School.

After graduating from Princeton University he taught science at a mission school in Mount Zion, Ga., where he met Elizabeth “Zibby” Fink, an Oberlin College graduate. They were married in her hometown of Cambridge Springs, Pa., on Christmas Day 1934. They lived in Princeton for more than 40 years.

Joel was a senior patent agent for RCA. He was an avid tennis player, a Princeton University track meet official, and a member of the Carnegie Sailing Club, Princeton Archaeology Club, and the Historical Society of Princeton. He and Zibby were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton.

In May 2007, Joel attended his 75th Princeton reunion, accompanied by his four children, Joyce, Joel, Peter ’67, and Patty; his nephew, James ’69; and many other family members. Zibby predeceased Joel, as did his brother, William ’31. The class sends condolences to the family.