Born in Timperley, England, John came to the United States in 1940 at age 12 with his mother and brother to escape World War II. He became a U.S. citizen in 1954.
John’s first years stateside were spent at Berkshire School, where he was known for his English humor and good nature. He was a member of the soccer team and the flying club. He roomed with Tom Wolf at Berkshire and Princeton, and the two remained lifelong friends.
At Princeton, John was a member of Elm Club and majored in history. He served with the U.S. Army (Heavy Mortar Company, 279th Infantry Regiment) for two years of active duty during the Korean War, and four years in the Reserve.
In 1952, John married Ann Carlin at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. He and Ann moved to Bethlehem, Pa., and then to Darien, Conn., where they raised their children. After 55 years of marriage, Ann died in 2007. John married Diane Schulman in 2009. She died in 2016.
John’s career was in the apparel-manufacturing business, primarily on the operations side, for Laros, Warnaco, and Crystal Brands.
John is survived by his three children, John, Susan Graves, and Sally Grant; and grandchildren Matthew and Jessica Graves, Benjamin and Samuel Grant, and Emma Schofield. The class extends its condolences to the family of this kind and jovial man, who will be remembered fondly.