John P. Jones ’36

J.P. died Jan. 30, 2013, in La Jolla, Calif., after a brief illness. He was 98.

He was born May 3, 1914, in Youngstown, Ohio. A scholar-athlete, he relished his four years at Princeton, during which he honed his love of arts and letters and expanded his athletic skills.

After graduating with a major in politics, J.P. went to work as a laborer at Youngstown Sheet and Tube. Blessed with remarkable interpersonal skills, he soon specialized in employee and public relations. He transferred to U.S. Steel. Subsequently, he moved to Standard Oil of Ohio, where he spent 18 years, two of which were in Tehran on loan to the Iranian Oil Co. In 1968, he retired from
Clevite Corp.

Two years later, J.P. moved to La Jolla with his wife, Julia, who died in 1986. A lifelong golfer, J.P. continued to play into his 90s. Always the showman, he could recite Shakespeare as well as old-time radio jingles. His sophisticated song-and-dance routines were the highlight of reunion gatherings. At the time of his death, his golf and tap shoes were side-by-side in his closet. Well-worn volumes of Shakespeare stood on his shelf.

J.P. is survived by two sons and a daughter.