John D. Laupheimer ’52

John died of cancer Dec. 19, 2005, in London.

A Philadelphia native, he entered Princeton from Germantown Academy, majored in politics, belonged to Cottage Club, and served on the business board of the Daily Princetonian.

Following service in the Navy, John joined his family's firm, General Public Warehouse. In the 1960s, after the firm was sold, he was an investment banker on Wall Street before embarking on a distinguished career as a golf administrator.

Golf played a major role in John's life, and he played exceptionally important roles in the game: president of Merion Golf Club, president of the Pennsylvania Golf Association; executive director of administration for the U.S. Golf Association; and commissioner of the LPGA. He also was an executive for the International Management Group, promoters of golf tournaments. As LPGA commissioner in the 1980s, John strengthened the women's tour dramatically by doubling prize monies and introducing medical and retirement benefits.

When presented golf's Herb Graffis Award in 1988, John's citation, which rings true for all who knew him, read in part: "gentlest, kindest, most thoughtful and loving (of) human beings."

John is survived by his second wife, Sally Bott; his son, John Jr.; his daughters, Ann and Helen; brother Curtis; and eight grandchildren. To them, the class extends deepest condolences.

The Class of 1952