John E. Stauffer ’54

Jack died July 23, 2018, of glioblastoma brain cancer.

Coming to us from Deerfield Academy, at Princeton he majored in chemical engineering, joined Key and Seal Club, and was active in Whig-Clio and the mountaineering club. He attended MIT and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, earning a Ph.D. in chemical engineering.

At the family-owned Stauffer Chemical Co., he became director of corporate development until its sale, when he founded Stauffer Technology. An author, consultant, inventor, and speaker, he presented at international technology conferences worldwide. He was vice chairman of the United Nations Conference on the International Use of Energy and Raw Materials in the Petrochemical Industry in 1994.

Since childhood, Jack loved scientific experiments and worked in his home laboratory, testing many of his processes. His numerous patents involved nuclear energy, innovative batteries and engines, electricity transmission, and chemical processes — many leading to the reduction of harmful chemical pollutants.

Jack and Valerie enjoyed skiing on the slopes in Stratton Mountain, Vt., and cycling on more than a dozen international trips.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Valerie, and children Jill Stauffer Cobbs, Karen Stauffer Murphy ’82, Chris ’84, and Peter. He was Daddy Jack to his eight grandchildren — among them Lucy Vilas Cobbs ’14, Grace Sawyer Murphy ’15, and Virginia Louise Murphy ’21. He is also survived by his sister and a nephew.