John Kinsley Best ’36

"Jake" died Feb. 19, 2001. After Princeton he received his law degree in 1941 from Fordham U. In 1968, NYU granted him a degree of doctor of laws. He retired from law practice in 1992.

During WWII he served four years as both a weather and legal officer in the Air Force. He also served during the Korean War as a judge advocate in Japan. He retired as a colonel.

His hobbies included playing the organ, piano, viola, and restoring violins. He performed in symphony orchestras and sang tenor for New York oratorios in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

In 1972, as valedictorian, he and his son, John K. '69, were simultaneously ordained Methodist ministers by the Boston U. seminary. Soon thereafter he was installed as an assistant pastor of the Woodbury [N.Y.] Methodist Church. At our 60th reunion he helped conduct our class memorial service. He retired to Brookville, Fla., in 1991.

He is survived by his wife, Antoinette, a daughter, Julia Chase, sons John K. and Charles K., stepsons Stephen Ryan III and Franc Bruno, stepdaughters Melinda, Patricia, and Lu Ann Bruno, a brother, Charles, 10 grandchildren, and a great-grandson. Jake was a most loyal Princetonian and classmate.

The Class of 1936