John T. Koehler ’26

JACK KOEHLER, a former assistant secretary of the Navy, died of cancer at his home in Chevy Chase, Md., on Sept. 23, 1989. Jack, a native of Pennsylvania, transferred to Princeton in 1924 from Grove City College, majored in politics, made Phi Beta Kappa, and went on to Harvard Law School. Jack served with the Navy during WWII in both the European and Pacific theaters. He was awarded the Silver Star medal as the commanding officer of an underwater-demolition team and attained the rank of commander.

Jack's postwar career as a public servant began in 1946, when he joined the Navy Dept.'s Office of General Counsel. Between 1949 and 1951, he was assistant secretary and served as chairman of the Maritime Board. Later he was chairman of the Renegiation Board. Leaving government service in 1953, he joined the law firm of Henry F. Butler '20. He practiced law until his retirement in 1985. For many years he was a director of Woodward and Lothrop, a well-known department store. Jack had a number of hobbies, including raising orchids. He had over 150 plants in his greenhouse.

Jack and Eleanor Rust Pierce were married in 1949. Our sympathy goes out to Eleanor and their children, John Jr., of Wendell, Mass., Mathilde Rothwell, of Brunswick, Me., and Elizabeth, of Arlington, Va.; his brothers, Richard and William, of Pittsburgh; his sisters, Dorothy K. Holl, of Arlington, and Ruth Brown, of Victoria, B.C.; and two grandchildren.

The Class of 1926