John Sedgwick Sprague ’46

John Sprague died in Buffalo Oct. 24, 2003, after suffering a stroke following a heart attack. Alan Lukens represented the class and spoke at John's memorial service.

John was a man for all seasons. Returning to Princeton in 1946 after serving as a gunner during WWII, John joined Cannon Club and became very active on campus. He chaired the Princeton chapter of United World Federalists, leading him to ask Albert Einstein to endorse a petition in support of the group, which Einstein did. Eventually John carried the petition to Pres. Truman. A dramatic display of his enthusiasm for this project took place during a 1947 football game when a dummy was dropped from a small plane over Palmer Stadium with a sign saying, "Why Die? Federate!"

After graduation, John joined CARE in Vienna, where he met his future wife, Marianne. Returning to Buffalo, John became president of a large lumber company and later became head of a tennis-court construction company, which led to his winning the Distinguished Service Award from the US Tennis Court Builders Assn. John was a leader in many civic activities, including serving as the longtime president of the Niagara Frontier Landmark Society.

To Marianne, their children, Christina Tinker and Christopher; and their four grandchildren, we send our sincerest condolences. They will miss him and so will we.

The Class of 1946