John W. Easton ’26

John Easton, an outstanding leader of the class, died Dec. 12, 1994, in Washington, D.C. John's Princeton connections included his father, Roswell F. 1898, and numerous alumni relatives. At Princeton, he was involved in the Princetonian, the Triangle Club, our freshman baseball team, and Cap and Gown. He was in the R.O.T.C., and earned a commission as a second lt. in the reserves.

He entered the investment banking business and was partner in Ingalls & Snyder, Dan Monroe's firm, until 1942, when he entered the service. During WWII, John was an assistant military attaché in the U.S. embassy in London. He received the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star, and left the service as a colonel, in 1947. Working as a consultant to the foreign affairs committee of the House, he helped prepare the Marshall Plan. After 1949, he worked for the C.I.A., then the Defense Agency. He retired in 1970.

John was devoted to Princeton. He received our Distinguished Achievement Award in 1986 and served as class president from 1981-85. A man of good judgment and strength of character, he was also modest, hardworking, and cheerful.

John's first wife, Hope, died in 1968. His second wife, Beatrice, died in 1989. He is survived by five stepchildren, Shirley M. Lee; Brooks B. Mills; and James M., John M., and Zoe Rae; 11 step-grandchildren; and three step great-grandchildren. To all, we send our sympathy.