John R. Lauritzen ’40

John died at his Omaha, Neb., home on July 21, 2000, from health problems stemming from a stroke in 1996.

John was a native of Minneapolis, preparing for Princeton at the Blake School. At Princeton, he earned numerals on the hockey team, was a member of Cottage Club, and roomed with Ted Nevins and Ralph Wyer.

Early in life John showed an aptitude for sports, competing in the hockey Junior Olympics. He was a lifelong golfer, hunter, and fisherman; in his later Omaha years, he "saw red" as a loyal U. of Nebraska fan. Princeton shared his loyalties, benefiting from his service as PAA-PC treasurer and president.

In Omaha at the age of 29, he was reported to be the youngest bank president in the US, growing the First Natl. of Omaha from $100 million to over $11 billion in assets. He started the First Charge Card in 1953 (later to become Visa). Other bankers described John "as a pioneer in the credit-card business, one of the founding fathers, a key supporter of economic development."

John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Libby, son Bruce '65, daughter Anne Pape, and five grandchildren. The class extends its belated condolences to his family.

The Class of 1940