John Pemberton III ’49

Jack died Nov. 30, 2016, in Amherst, Mass., his home for more than 50 years. He lived a rich, full, and rewarding life — more than just another college professor, as this meager obituary will endeavor to record.

Jack, a minister’s son, came to Princeton from Poughkeepsie High School. A history major and a member of Quadrangle, he was best known for his beautiful tenor voice, as exemplified by his singing in the Glee Club, the ’49ers Quartet, the Nassoons, the Triangle show, and the Chapel Choir.

After Princeton, Jack went to Duke for a degree in religion, followed by a Ph.D. in religious history. In 1958 he joined the faculty at Amherst College, and he remained there for the rest of his career. But he was not merely a professor of religion: His research led him to an extensive study of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria; he published numerous studies of their culture, and he co-curated several exhibitions of their world-famous Benin bronzes.

Jack is survived by his wife, Jane, and six children, John IV, Lynn, Robert, Debra, Susan, and Nanci. We offer our sympathy and condolences to all who knew him.