John Shirk ’65

John died of respiratory failure Nov. 8, 2011, at Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.

He was a graduate of Manheim Township High School in Lancaster, Pa., and lived in Lancaster for many years. At Princeton, John ate at Elm Club and was a Woodrow Wilson School major with, according to his roommates, a special certificate in Saturday-morning cartoons. He earned a law degree from Penn and joined the firm of Barley, Snyder, Senft & Cohen in 1969, becoming a partner in 1973 and serving as managing partner from 1983 to 1993.

John dedicated his life to public service and at his death was serving as general counsel for Franklin & Marshall College and as a board member of Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, Fulton Bank and Fulton Financial Corp., Irex Corp., Lancaster Newspapers, Eastern Insurance Holdings, and Pennfield Corp. Known for his humor, John led an active lifestyle involving fly-fishing in Alaska, horseback riding, training hunting dogs, and playing with his beloved grandson, Tyler.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mary Ann; son Mike; daughter Caroline ’09; three siblings; and a grandson. To them all, the class extends its sympathy on the loss of this energetic and public-spirited man.