John Abbotts ’45

John Abbotts died suddenly Feb. 10, 2010.  

John entered Princeton from Trenton High School, following in the footsteps of his father, William 1911, and preceding his brother, Alfred ’50. He joined Dial Lodge, played on the 150-pound football team, and was on the basketball team with Butch van Breda Kolff.  

His Princeton career was interrupted by military service in World War II and Korea. A much-decorated fighter pilot with the 8th and 9th Army Air Forces over Germany from his base in England, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  

After graduation from Princeton, John received a law degree from Rutgers and entered a partnership with his father until his father’s death in 1973.  

He married Jacqueline “Jacqui” Krempecke in 1972. They continued the firm of Abbotts & Abbotts as law partners until his retirement. John and Jacqui celebrated their wedding anniversary each year in Bermuda. He enjoyed skiing, tennis, golf, sailing, gardening, and beekeeping.