John B. Jessup ’45

John died May 20, 2015. He entered Princeton from St. Paul’s School and played freshman football, hockey, track, and varsity hockey. He was also on the 150-pound football team and was an assistant coach of that team. John joined Ivy Club, following in the footsteps of his father, Everett 1911, and ahead of his brother, Richard ’49.

His Princeton career was interrupted for service as a fighter pilot with the Army Air Corps. John returned to Princeton in 1947, and it was a big year for him — he received his bachelor’s of science in engineering, and married Elizabeth “Lee” Anderson of Princeton.

After one year with Grumman Aircraft on Long Island, Lee and John left for California and the construction industry. John worked with several firms before ultimately forming Jessup Construction Co. After settling in Atherton, Calif., he became well known in the area for his designs and beautiful custom homes on the Peninsula. He was married to Lee until her passing in 1981, then married Carolyn (Fox) Havre in 1985. His second happy marriage lasted until Carolyn died in 2013. In his retirement years, John worked in his vineyard, constructed a garden railroad, and enjoyed an upbeat life.

John is survived by his daughter, Deborah Lee Jessup; his sons, John “Toby,” and David; and two grandchildren. The class extends its sympathy to the family.