John served in the Army during World War II. After military service he joined American International Underwriters (AIU). He went to France to help develop business for the Marshall Plan and was instrumental in establishing the AIU branch office in Italy. He rose to regional manager for Europe and the Middle East, was later chairman and CEO, an AIU director, and its vice chairman of external affairs.
He was chair of the governing board of the International Research and Exchanges Board and director of the Institute of EastWest Studies. He was honored in 2003 for his contribution working on issues between Eastern Europe and Asia. He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Council on Ethnic Accord, the US-Russia Business Council, the Bretton Woods Committee, the US-EU Poland Action Commission, and the US-Romania Action Commission of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He was a trustee of the Starr Foundation, the Juilliard School, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. He also was chair of the Corporate Council, and a member of the dean’s advisory board for the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.
John died April 19, 2018. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy, and son John. He is survived by son Christopher; granddaughters Pierra and Eugenie; and a great-grandson, John “Jack” Jacobson, named in his honor.