John W. Blades ’57

John W. Blades ’57 passed away September 27, 2023. John graduated from Haverford School. He majored in English and was a member of Theta Delta Chi (social chairman) and Dragon. He was in the crew (coaching for two years), the rugby club and the Dartmouth Christian Union. He earned his M.B.A. from Tuck School in 1961. John began his business career at Richardson-Merrill (pharmaceuticals), working in the marketing division for 10 years in the United States then transfering to London. Three years later he moved to Paris to become a director of marketing, with responsibility from Stockholm, Sweden, to Cape Town, South Africa. In 1980 he left corporate life to go into a real estate partnership with an old friend in Palm Beach, Florida. The timing was perfect. The firm Fenton & Lang prospered in the rising Florida prime real estate market. John served Dartmouth as class agent (1965-70) and regional club president (1978-80). He was predeceased by Ann, his wife of 50 years, and is survived by daughters Abigail and Jessica.