John Bender ’67

John died April 9, 2018, of lung cancer in McLean, Va.

He came to Princeton from Washington, D.C., by way of Phillips Exeter Academy. At Princeton John majored in history, writing his senior thesis, “Transmogrification of Rectabuler Excrusions,” under Associate Dean of the College Richard D. Challener. A member of Cottage Club, he lived senior year at 932 Lockhart with Chan Mortimer and Dick Polhemus. John played freshman football and lacrosse, managed the Campus Stationery Agency, was an Orange Key preceptor, and was active in the Campus Fund Drive.

After graduation John served in the Marines in Vietnam as a rifle platoon and company commander. He was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor, a Purple Heart, and a Navy Commendation Medal. He spent a final year of duty back at Quantico.

After his service, John entered Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. While working on his Ph.D. dissertation, he taught for a year at Florida International University, which caused him to rethink his career, and he returned to government employment in the Foreign Service. He spent the rest of his working life on assignments.

John retired from government service in 2007. He had also retired in 1996 from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel.

In May 1969 John married Margaret Bender, a native Australian. She survives him, as do their daughters, Heather and Alexandra, and one grandchild. John fulfilled the college admonition to always live “in the nation’s service,” for which the Class of 1967 is proud of and grateful to him.