John M. Kauffmann ’45

John Kauffmann died peacefully Nov. 16, 2014, at his Yarmouth, Maine, home.

He prepared for Princeton at Choate. At Princeton he joined Charter, and as he had done at Choate, he lettered in crew.

His studies were interrupted for service as a diplomatic courier in Africa and Europe for three years. He joined the National Park Service in 1972 and was assigned to Alaska, where he began his lifelong career in conservation. He worked closely with renowned Princeton professor John McPhee ’53 in Alaskan-preservation activities.

In 1952, John edited a history of our class’s World War II experiences and painstakingly compiled a history of each classmate up to that date. His contributions to the class were so significant and extended that at the 65th reunion, he received significant recognition from 1945 as well as a tribute from McPhee. Indeed, John Kauffmann’s service to the class, which ended with many years as class secretary, were so impressive that a tribute to his life and career will appear in the Class Notes. John left no survivors, but his imprint upon the class is major.