John R. Towers ’63

JT died Oct. 26, 2017, in Venice, Fla., of complications of multiple myeloma. He was a financial executive and loyal pal to many classmates.

Optimistic, direct, and kind, he arrived at Princeton from Manhasset, N.Y., majored in economics, ate at Tiger Inn, wrestled, played 150-pound football, and helped win three Ivy League lacrosse championships. He roomed with Dreher, Hal Williams, and Frost.

After earning a law degree at the University of Virginia, where he coached freshman lacrosse and wrestling, he was a Navy Seabee in Vietnam for two tours. He then worked in Boston at State Street Bank, Fidelity, US Trust, and Bank of Boston before returning to State Street, where he retired in 2005 as vice chairman and chief administrative officer.

JT never lost his crew cut, his irreverence, or his love of lacrosse, which he played for four decades. He avidly supported charities and was on the boards of the Seabees Foundation and the U.S. Lacrosse Foundation.

The class grieves with JT’s wife of more than 50 years, Margaret; their sons, John and Joe; his brother, Tom ’59; his sister, Jane Ward; and grandchildren Acacia, Katianna, Kaya, Jack, Brooke, Indigo, Landon, and Sophia. As JT posted on Facebook, “Grandpas are here to help grandchildren get into the mischief that they haven’t thought of yet.”