John Henry Vruwink ’38

John Vruwink died at home in Bellevue, Wash., May 26, 1995, after a courageous two-year battle with cancer.

He prepared at Albany Academy. At Princeton, he majored in history and was voted the best all-around athlete in the class. He was a three-year letterman in basketball and captain senior year. He played 150-lb. football and, in his last two years, was a two-way varsity end.

Vru attended New Brunswick Theological Seminary. After five years with the First Reformed Church in Catskill, N.Y., he was ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. After a year in Ogdensburg, N.Y., he went to St. Paul's in Indianapolis as curate and then rector. In 1960, he went to St. John's Church in Tulsa, and in 1969, was called to St. Thomas in Medina, Wash. He retired there in 1987, but continued as a volunteer in Christ Church.

Vru was known as a kind, gentle, praying priest, a man of wisdom, dignity and grace. He wrote three nationally published books: A Lively Tradition, Healing Cross, and The Glory of It All, and had started a fourth. He was awarded our Class Distinguished Service Award in 1963. He presided at our class memorial service during our 55th, giving a most moving talk on what Princeton meant to him.

He is survived by Emma, his wife of 54 years; son Henry; and daughters Barbara Lee, Jenny Pascal, and Mary Large. We extend our sympathy to them on the loss of one of our most respected classmates.

The Class of 1938