A last gesture before John died was mimicking with his fingers playing a piano, an essential component of his life from age 5. He attributed his admission to Princeton to playing to the alumnus interviewer the latter’s favorite tune. His SAT scores, he said, were unremarkable.

At Princeton John played for the Tigertown Five and the Nassau Jazz Band. Later he played in Manhattan for 30 years on Les Leiber’s Jazz at Noon “comping” for then-nationally known pianists and sometimes playing with musicians including Dave Brubeck, Buddy Guy, and Walter Chiasson.

He studied at the iconic Mannes School in Manhattan and lent his talent to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., and elsewhere there. He loved playing at parties in any key, no sheet music needed, to any accompaniment, such as including his family in four-part harmony. John sang as well, with the University Glee Club of New York City, the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus, and other groups.

His career, however, was elsewhere. Beginning in pharmaceutical sales, he settled into pharmaceutical advertising and marketing, later forming three agencies of his own, all in New York. He was president of the Pharmaceutics Advertising Council.

John is survived by his wife of 62 years, Anne; six children; and 12 grandchildren.

Class Year: 
Undergraduate Class of 1957