John Henry Muller Jr. ’46

A member of our Navy V-12 contingency, Jack earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at Cornell and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1949. He then held senior positions in marketing and merchandising at R.H. Macy & Co. and Kraft brands at General Foods Corp.

With that 20-year background and recognizing the continuing growth in household economy, Jack founded General Housewares Corp. in 1969, which soon became a leading manufacturer of brands such as OXO kitchen products, Chicago Cutlery, and Colonial Candle of Cape Cod. By 1982 it was a New York Stock Exchange company, with Jack serving as chairman of the board and CEO until 1995.

Meantime, beginning when his son was an undergraduate at Babson College, Jack served as chairman of its board for 10 years and spearheaded a capital campaign that raised more than $122 million for development of facilities, faculty, and curriculum.

Shortly before Jack died March 18, 2014, his wife, Marie Sisk Muller, predeceased him. He is survived by his daughters, Marie Elliott and Ann Powers; son Stephen Muller; two grandchildren; and his sister, Mary Roller. To them all, ’46 expresses warmest condolences.