John I. H. McGiffert ’37

Brilliant teacher, director, writer, and "saloon" piano player, Jack McGiffert died on May 10, 1989, of a heart attack.

Jack was the class valedictorian at Pingry, where he was also active in football, tennis, swimming, dramatics, and publications. At Princeton, he majored in English and was a member of the freshman swimming team, the 150lb. football team, Theatre Intime, and Elm Club. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa, with high honors.

Jack's first career was teaching. He rose to head the English dept. at Millbrook School, while on the side he acted and directed in the New London Players. In 1950, he shifted to radio and TV, directing and writing for CBS and NBC. His credits included two Civil War documentaries, NBC's “The Big Surprise,” and CBS's "Camera Three." Jack had pieces published in the Saturday Evening Post, the New Yorker, and other magazines and wrote a book of poetry, Many a Morning After.

Jack's personal life was marred by two breakdowns and manic depression (later controlled by drugs). Married twice, he is survived by two sons, David and Peter; two grandchildren; and two Princeton nephews. Jack referred to Princeton as "my dear Tiger class." Lines from one of his poems sum up his philosophy: "Never go too direct, in this our life, Angle, always toward children and sunlight."