John Martin Johnston ’45

Jack Johnston died Sept. 25, 2003.

Jack prepared at Poly Prep and joined Cannon Club at Princeton. His studies were interrupted by distinguished and courageous service in the European theater during WWII. Jack was awarded the Silver Star for rescuing two members of his platoon from a minefield. Tragically, during the course of the rescue, he lost both legs.

Returning to Princeton and then to Columbia Law School, he taught himself to walk on two artificial legs and eventually managed to walk with only a cane into his late 70s. Despite his disability, he maintained a low handicap in his favorite sport of golf.

Jack's lifelong partnership at White & Case included leading the litigation department for many years. In this capacity, Jack was involved with corporate giants including US Steel Corp. and PepsiCo, and such interesting individual clients as Aristotle Onassis. A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he never lost a jury case. He ended his career as manager of White & Case's Palm Beach office.

Jack married the former Marie Ann Kelly in 1944, and after their divorce in 1966, he married the former Suzanne Shepardson, who survives him along with daughters Nancy Elting and Jacqueline Hoffman; three sons, John William, Peter Kelly, and Philip Connelly; and seven grandchildren. The class extends its sympathy to the family.

The Class of 1945