John R. Emery ’52

John died March 19, 2012.

He grew up in Montclair, N.J., where he attended Montclair High School. At Princeton, he was an outstanding athlete, earning varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball his three upperclass years. He won the Roper Trophy as outstanding scholar-athlete at graduation.

Following military service, he joined McGraw-Hill Publishing, eventually becoming president of the periodical division. He subsequently joined Macmillan and American Business Press, retiring in 1995.

John gave years of service to our class and Princeton, establishing records in Annual Giving, serving as class president from 1972 to 1977, and spending three years fundraising with Princeton’s Office of Development for the Class of ’52 Stadium.

John married Barbara Jean (“B.J.”) in 1954. They settled in Rumson, N.J., where they raised their four children. Always involved in family and community affairs, he rarely missed a child’s athletic or school event. He loved golf and was an accomplished fly-fisherman.

B.J. died in 2011 after a long illness. The class extends sympathy to John’s children John R. Jr. ’79, Karen Lynch, Robert L., and Richard C. ’90; and their families. We will miss this remarkably talented and good man.