John Henry Meier ’57

John Henry Meier ’57 died on April 14. Born and raised in Denver, John attended Dartmouth for two years. He was a member of Psi Upsilon and participated in baseball, Newman Club, Green Key, woodworking shop and NROTC. He then played minor league baseball on a Yankee farm team, where he struck out Billy Martin, a favorite baseball memory. He spent two years in the Saint Thomas Seminary in Denver. Eschewing celibacy, he met and married Ann Heckendorf in 1960. John graduated from Regis College and received his master’s and doctorate from the University of Denver, focusing on child development. Career highlights: Founded New Nursery School (precursor of Head Start), developed crib enrichment items that led to Creative Playthings’ BusyBox, appointed to President Johnson’s Head Start professional advisory committee, became national chair of Early Childhood Consortium, founded private nonprofit Psychological Educational Research Institute currently run by his three daughters, appointed director of John F. Kennedy Child Development Center, served as Hasbro Toys vice president of education, appointed by President Ford as director of child development and chief of U.S. Children’s Bureau, wrote sections of Education for All Handicapped Children Act and served as director of research and development for ChildHelp USA. After 50 rewarding years he retired to focus on golf and family. John is survived by his wife, Ann, daughters Rebecca, Rita and Rhonda, three granddaughters and dog Beau. Bob Adelizzi ’57 wrote that he was impressed with John’s “high morals, athleticism, humanity and dedication to improving the lives of others.”