John Crittenden Sawhill ’58

John died from complications from diabetes on May 18, 2000. He came to Princeton from Gilman School in Baltimore; majored in the Woodrow Wilson School; was a member of Colonial Club and a heavyweight wrestler.

After graduation, John earned a PhD in economics from NYU. He had an extraordinary career, succeeding in education, business, government, and the nonprofit sector. He served three presidents, as associate director at the Office of Management and Budget under Nixon; energy czar under Ford; deputy secretary of energy under Carter. As president of NYU, he helped to revive the university's finances. As a senior partner of McKinsey, he specialized in energy issues. For the past two decades he was head of the Nature Conservancy. During his tenure the Conservancy protected more than seven million acres in the U.S. alone.

John was chair of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, board member of the President's Council on Sustainable Development, and the Commission on the Future of the Smithsonian, and a past trustee of Princeton.

John gave us all so much and still had much to give. The class extends its deepest sympathy to his wife of 42 years, Isabel, and his son, James.

The Class of 1958