John P. Wilson ’55

Jack died Sept. 19, 2025, at his home overlooking San Francisco Bay in Greenbrae, Calif.

He attended Mercersburg Academy. At Princeton, he studied at the Woodrow Wilson School and joined Tiger Inn. His sports activities included freshman crew and IAA football and basketball. Jack served on Orange Key and was on the staff of the Bric-a-Brac. His senior year roommates were his identical twin brother Dick, Hayes Walker, and Sam Trump.

Jack joined the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, then was drafted and volunteered for the Navy. He went to Monterey Language School, where he learned Polish and was sent to the National Security Agency. He then graduated from Harvard Law School, where he became an assistant dean of admissions. He helped in the first major effort to bring Black students north to law school from segregated Southern colleges. Boston University lured him to become associate dean and director of the Legal Studies Institute. He set up and administered inner-city clinical programs, directed the Center for Law and Health Sciences, and taught courses and seminars.

Jack authored a book on the rights of adolescents in the mental health system. He also served on several boards, served as a consultant to a national commission, arbitrated cases for two national arbitration organizations, and participated part time with several dozen affiliates of local and state government.

Right up to the end Jack firmly enjoyed his family, groups of friends, travel, local restaurants, samples of chardonnay. and the fine scenery nearby.

Jack was predeceased by his first wife, Elizabeth; his brother Buddy, and his sisters Peggy, Pat, and Cicely. He is survived by his wife, Tedi Christensen; children David, Lee ’81, and Cicely; his twin brother Dick; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.