John came to Princeton in 1945 from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., where his father had maintained an Oldsmobile dealership since 1919. While on campus he was the manager for the baseball, basketball, and football teams; majored in economics; and belonged to Cloister Inn. After graduation he joined Pohanka Oldsmobile in Washington, D.C., which turned out to be his lifetime career. At the time of his death he was the chairman of the Pohanka Automotive Group. 

John was very active in the National Automobile Dealers Association. In 1979 he won the Time Magazine Auto Dealer of the Year Award, and he was one of the first dealers to sell both domestic and foreign makes of cars. He also was an active opera lover, serving on the board of the Washington National Opera for 30 years, as well as the Palm Beach Opera Co. and the Wagner Society of Palm Beach. 

John married Jean Powers in 1956 and they had three children, Brian, Geoffrey, and Susan. He was predeceased by Jean, Brian, and his former wife, Lori McCalip. He is survived by his third wife, Lynn, and his remaining two children. We offer them our sincere condolences. 

Class Year: 
Undergraduate Class of 1949