John E. Vanderstar ’54

John died Dec. 6, 2023.

He prepared at William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City, N.J. At Princeton, he majored in aeronautical engineering, was president of Key and Seal, chaired the Orange Key Guide Service, participated in 150-pound crew, and was sports director of WPRU.

In 1961, after serving as a flight navigator in the Navy and earning an LL.B at Harvard Law School, he joined Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., where he practiced in all areas of federal court and administrative agency litigation and arbitration, including antitrust, commercial, sports, broadcast, and civil-rights law. He retired as a partner in 2000.

He was devoted to work in civil rights, actively engaged with the ACLU, the National Organization for Women, the Legal Counsel for the Elderly, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and Planned Parenthood.

John was also active with the Episcopal Church as a delegate to various official meetings, participating in the drive to ordain women, and writing the 2006 General Convention resolution declaring the institution of slavery a sin.

He married M. Elizabeth “Liz” Culbreth in 1985. In 2009, they moved to her hometown, Waynesville, N.C., where they became deeply involved in its life.

He is survived by Liz; daughters Pippa ’85, Alexandra, Thankful ’88, and Eliza; two grandchildren; a half-brother; and two half-sisters. He was predeceased by his brother Ronald and his infant daughter Liza.

John is remembered as a man of great intellect, integrity, and humor, and as a devoted husband, father, and friend. He will be deeply missed.