John Gridley Underhill ’44

Born in Albany, where his mother came from a historic Hudson Valley family, he prepped at Albany Academy, where he was active in dramatics and music. At Princeton, he majored in electrical engineering, and was a member of Theatre Intime, the Princeton Band, and Cannon Club.

John left us in 1942 to become a B-29 flight engineer in the Army Air Corps. He married Jean Sager of Albany in 1943, and joined the Sager-Spuck Supply Co. in 1946, retiring 40 years later as its chief executive and board chairman.

John was an officer in the Princeton Alumni Association of Northern New York, a bank director, and active in area historic, business, and environmental organizations. He particularly enjoyed the skiing, sailing, and canoeing of nearby Lake George and the Adirondacks.

John and Jean recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. In addition to Jean, his survivors include a brother, David; a son, Douglas; a daughter, Laurie Wadsworth; two grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. A son, John Jeffrey Underhill, died earlier. A longtime friend from prep-school and college days is Frank Williams ’44. We extend our condolences to all.