John A. Myers Jr. ’44

Jack died April 21, 2007, after a short illness, in his home on Wilmington Island, Savannah, Ga.

Jack came to us from Lawrenceville. At Princeton he roomed with Ned Kelley, Linc Johnson, Jim Crawford, and Bill Tiernan. He was a member of Cottage Club and won a letter on a 150-pound undefeated (and unscored-upon) football team, and another letter as a high jumper.

After earning a bachelor’s in political science in 1943, he commanded an all-black Marine Corps unit in the Pacific. This began Jack’s pursuit of two lifelong interests — civil rights and teaching English. Jack taught English at the University of Virginia, then chaired English departments (and coached football or tennis) at St. Louis Country Day School, The Hun School, and Belmont (Mass.) High School — the last for 20 years — while winning appointments to national English-teaching commissions. He published textbooks on English usage and teaching poetry.

His memberships included the Princeton Club of Savannah and the Society of the Cincinnati.

Jack is survived by his wife, Eve; two sisters, Elizabeth Walker and Carolyn Glenn; and six children, John A. III, Sarah W., Thomas C., Mary F., David L., and Robert K. Our sincere condolences go to the entire family.