John Alexander Thompson ’36

Jack died Feb. 23, 1996, in Duarte, Calif. He was 81. He prepared at the Hotchkiss School At Princeton, he majored in history and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. A scholar, teacher, ordained minister, missionary, renowned biblical historian, translator, and interpreter, he served his fellowmen well.

Jack received two degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins. He taught six years at the Biblical Seminary in N.Y.C.

Next, he was a Presbyterian missionary in Egypt for 20 years. He served as a seminary professor, teaching the Old Testament and Hebrew at the Protestant Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo. There, he helped on a revision of the Arabic Bible and its Arabic dictionary.

Returning to Princeton in 1967, he worked for the translation department of the American Bible Society. His many articles included editing and reviewing biblical studies for several publications. He served on the committee for the translation of the Old Testament of the Good News Bible, today's English version. He retired in 1981. He was a longtime secretary of the Princeton Area Alumni Assn.

Jack is survived by his widow, Evelyn B. Thompson Aye, a retired pastor, teacher, and missionary; sons Henry A. and Daniel B.; daughters Carol T. Wright and Ann; one grandchild; and brother David S. '39. Jack led an extraordinary life. He will be remembered.