John Lyon Kidde ’56

John died July 24, 2001, at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J. He served as a personal example of how to use business success to improve the lives of others. Having held various positions in Europe and South America with Walter Kidde, Inc., the fire-extinguisher company established by his grandfather, he founded KDM Development Corp. in Upper Montclair 13 years ago. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, he chose to serve on the boards of companies "that he felt contributed to the betterment of society: piano and organ companies, land mine detection equipment manufacturers, builders of nursing homes." He served as trustee of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Pace U., and Stevens Institute of Technology. He was president of the US-Pakistan Economic Development Council, and also president of Reachout56.

Tom Meeker '56 knew him as one of his first childhood friends. Others came to know him at Hotchkiss, or on the tennis court, or in squash, in courses together, or as a clubmate at Key and Seal. He was a generous, loyal, fun-loving but serious, and socially responsible classmate.

To his wife, Ruth, and children, Wilson, Andrew, Geoffrey, Roxana, Jonathan, Jeremy, and Jason, and to his five grandchildren and his sister, Katharine, the class extends its heartfelt sympathy.

The Class of 1956