John Hemphill Jr. ’47

Jack Hemphill died June 9, 2013, in Victoria, B.C., where he and his wife, Wenche, had lived for 42 years. He grew up in Princeton, and attended Millbrook School. His father, John, was in the Class of 1915.

Admitted to Princeton in 1943, he instead volunteered to spend three years in the Navy College Training Program in Engineering at both Stevens Institute of Technology and Columbia. In 1946 he started at Princeton, initially lived at home with his mother for a year, then as a resident student. He was a member of Cottage Club and received his degree in biology in 1948.

After living in Hopewell and at his wife’s home in Arendal, Norway, the couple moved to Victoria, where Jack could embrace the beautiful outdoor life and take courses at the University of British Columbia, Victoria. Jack was employed as a biologist, geneticist, chemist, construction company owner, printing company owner, and IBM programmer, among other pursuits.

While Jack’s Princeton experience was short, he and Wenche frequently enjoyed our class mini-reunions. We recognized his interest in continuing his education, and his love of unspoiled wilderness and family. The class sends sympathy to Wenche, sons Chris and Tybring, their wives, and three grandchildren.