John A. Valentine Jr. ’40

John died in his sleep May 15, 2015, in Durham, N.C., at age 96.

Born in Staten Island, N.Y., he came to Princeton from Curtis High School. At Princeton he majored in psychology, graduated with high honors, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He took his meals at Dial and was in the band and the Student Tutoring Association. His senior-year roommate was Huntley Stone.

After graduation, John earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in social psychology at Syracuse University. He taught and chaired the Department of Psychology and Education at Middlebury College, and then spent the rest of his career with the Educational Testing Service and the College Entrance Examination Board, which brought him back to Princeton. While with ETS, he was executive secretary of the groundbreaking Commission on Non-Traditional Study.

John loved tennis and playing his banjo. He was a devoted Princetonian and classmate, attending reunions and games regularly with his children and grandchildren. His son John said, “His battle cry was ‘Forward with ’40!’”

John retired in 1987, and he and his late wife, Nellie, relocated to Durham in 1999. He is survived by his sons, John and Tim; daughters Susan and Megan; and three grandchildren.