Life Trustee John Christensen '35 Dies at Age 93

January 26, 2008

January 26, 2008, Greencastle, Ind. - John W. Christensen, a 1935 graduate of DePauw and life member of the University's Board of Trustees, died Wednesday, January 23, in Las Vegas. He was 93 years old.

"DePauw has lost a dear and loyal friend," said President Robert G. Bottoms. "Throughout his life, John Christensen remained a vital part of this institution, and it is a much better place today because of his commitment to its success."

Christensen was first elected a Trustee in 1964. He assumed an advisory position in 1983 and was subsequently named a Life Trustee in 1986.

At DePauw, Christensen was elected to Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Beta Kappa, Order of the Coif and was a member of the 1931 Indiana All-State Debate Team. After graduating from theUniversity, Christensen worked for a year for General Electric, then graduated from Indiana University School of Law in 1939. He went on to practice law for 59 years, seven with the Securities & Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, Pa., and 52 years in private practice in Columbus, Oh. His career highlights included arguing and winning (along with the Solicitor General of the United States) a public utilities case before the United States Supreme Court in 1944 when he was 30.

John Christensen's five children (four now living) include his son, William, a 1962 DePauw graduate. He is survived additionally by 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and nine current spouses of children and grandchildren -- a current family of 40, including (Virginia) Beth (Heuring) Pinkley '43, John's second wife, whom he married in 1996 following the death of his first wife, Eleanor Schwerak.

Funeral services will be held at the Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1235 Northwest Boulevard in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, January 31 at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to make contributions to their favorite churches or charities in his memory.

An obituary may be accessed via the Columbus Dispatch.

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