John B. Strater ’37

John Strater, son of C. Helme Strater '06, died Dec. 29, 1996, of Alzheimer's (also afflicting his wife, Jean).

He attended Choate and was involved in the Glee Club and Drama Club. At Princeton he was a member of the Glee Club and Terrace Club and roomed with Ed Newhouse. He left Princeton the end of sophomore year to attend Packard Business School, but remained loyal to Princeton, attending our first reunion and giving generously, particularly for our 40th and 50th reunions.

He worked at Chase Natl. Bank before entering the Army as a private grade 7 and emerging as one of our 72 captains almost five years later, after service in Africa, Italy, France, and Germany in antiaircraft artillery. In 1942 he was mess officer, and his first request was for 24 can openers and 24 Coleman gas mantles. He was also executive officer, but couldn't say of what, though "interesting things are happening." Next came being a stock broker with Green, Ellis & Anderson in NYC, living in Rye, until he retired in 1964.