John H. Mack ’64

John Mack, who retired last summer as pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C., died Jan. 15, 2008.

In November, John and wife Barbara embarked on an adventure in the Himalayas. While trekking, John contracted high-altitude pulmonary edema, which was subsequently complicated by pneumonia. Following a lengthy hospitalization in Asia, he returned home by air ambulance before his death.

Following his years at Exeter and Princeton, John served with the Marine Corps in Vietnam, an experience that affected him deeply and helped solidify a decision to enter the ministry. John dedicated himself to welcoming and embracing those at the margins of society and to responding to the "prophetic imperative," as he called it, of our various religious traditions. Intellectually curious, ever witty, and deeply devoted to the children he and Barbara adopted from Colombia, he affected everyone with whom he came in contact.

John served on Princeton's Religious Life Advisory Council for 12 years.

Having just retired, John had more chapters to write and more songs to sing; he will be deeply missed. We extend our sympathy to Barbara, daughter Jessica and son Peter, and their spouses and children. We hope that John's memory will ever be a blessing to them.