John C. Porter ’67

John died Nov. 5, 2022, in San Diego of complications resulting from a fall. 

He came to Princeton from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., where he participated in basketball, golf, and crew and was a Key Club member. At Princeton, he majored in mechanical and aerospace engineering, rowed heavyweight crew, and was a member of Navy ROTC and Cap and Gown. He roomed with Phil Burstein, Bob Cocker, Bill Dakin, Jim Edmondson, Ed Morrison, and Ed Pritchett in 231-233 Henry Hall. 

After graduation and commissioning as an ensign in the Navy, John started aviation training in Pensacola, Fla. His first assignment was NAS Miramar training to fly the F-4 Phantom II. In San Diego, he met Kathleen Kersten and between combat deployments to Vietnam, John and Kathy were married in August 1971. Two of our classmates on the USS Kitty Hawk during Vietnam deployments considered John the best Princeton pilot of the three. 

John’s other assignments included the Naval War College and commanding officer of VC-1, an aggressor squadron based at Barbers Point, Hawaii. He accumulated more than 5,500 flight hours, most in models of the F-4 Phantom II, including 302 combat missions. He was awarded 22 air medals, retiring with the rank of commander in 1987. 

From 1987 to 1993 John was a general contractor on both coasts. He rejoined aviation for a 20-year career, joining the initial cadre at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems developing pioneering unmanned aircraft systems. He retired again in 2014 to play golf with old Navy buddies in San Diego

The Class of 1967 extends its sympathy to John’s wife, Kathy; and daughters Kirsten and Erin.