John Brightman ’55

John was born Dec. 31, 1932, in Washington, D.C., to Ethel Pharr and Harry Prentiss Brightman. He died Oct. 2, 2017.

The brother of Harry, one of Princeton’s best pitchers ever, John played varsity baseball for four years and was a delightful teammate.

Coming from Randolph Macon Academy as the salutatorian of his class, John joined Cottage Club and majored in history. He wrote his thesis on “George Bancroft and The Round Hill School,” was a member of Orange Key and the Campus Fund Drive, and played freshman football. He roomed at 64 Blair Hall with Joe Walsh, Mark Grassi, Jeff Dunkirk, and Royce Flippin.

In 1952 his family moved to St. Louis to establish Brightman Distributing Co., which John stayed with until it was sold in 1998. He launched a second career at UMB Bank and retired in 2009.

Passionate about baseball, dogs, films, and philanthropy, John was particularly proud of his work in founding and sustaining City Academy in St. Louis. He cherished his time with family and friends during summer vacations in Harbor Beach, Mich.

John is survived by his wife, Ann; daughters Tracy, Amy, and Virginia; son Russell; stepson Terry Pflager; and sister Lois Jackson.