Born in Buffalo, N.Y., John completed his secondary education at Deerfield Academy and followed his Princeton years with marriage to Judy Carpenter in 1961 and a law degree from Penn in 1962. From there he served as assistant to the trustee in bankruptcy of the New Haven Railroad, thence to Wilmington as staff attorney at the Wilmington Trust Co. 

Leaving the bank in 1986 as secretary, senior vice president, director, and head of its trust department, he co-founded the law firm of Herdeg, du Pont & Dalle Pazze and subsequently became a co-founder and chairman of Christiana Bank and Trust in Greenville, Del., leading it through a merger with National Penn Bank and then acquisition by Wilmington Savings Fund Society. Discriminating collectors of classical Americana, he and Judy restored as their family home a 1750s Georgian brick house that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

An economics major at Princeton, a member of Colonial Club, and a varsity soccer player, John was ’59’s first graduate class treasurer. His community involvement was extensive, his most enduring being 50 years with the du Pont Winterthur Museum, nine as chairman. Upon his death June 27, 2021, he, together with Judy, was posthumously recognized with the museum’s highest honor, the Henry Francis du Pont Award, for their support of the decorative arts. 

John is survived by his wife, Judy; three children; seven grandchildren; and two sisters. We have sent condolences.

Class Year: 
Undergraduate Class of 1959