J. Burke Knapp

J. Burke Knapp Passed away peacefully in Palo Alto, California on November 22, 2009 at the age of 96. He was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and moved to California at the age of 16 to attend Stanford University. There he was an outstanding scholar and athlete, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1933. He was selected as a Rhodes Scholar and attended Oxford University from 1933-1936. He worked as an investment banker in London for four years, and then returned to the U.S. to begin a highly distinguished career in international finance. He served in the U.S government at the Federal Reserve Board and the State Department, and attended the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 which created the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. From 1956 - 1978 he was the Senior Vice President of the World Bank. He dedicated his working life to international development, particularly in the poorest countries. He sought to make the world a better place, and was loved and respected by all who knew him. In retirement, he returned to Stanford where he was an active member of the university community for the last 26 years. He created a program for Stanford students to serve as interns in World Bank offices worldwide, and assisted the students personally in preparing for their posts. He also established a fund for Stanford students studying in Washington, D.C. to receive free tickets to attend performances at the Arena Stage theater, which he had helped to found. He was married in 1939 to Hilary Eaves of London, England (deceased), and in 1976 to Iris Hay-Edie of Port Antonio, Jamaica (deceased). He is survived by four children (Louis, Rosalind, Elise, and Michael) as well as by two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A memorial celebration of his life will be held at the Stanford Memorial Church on the campus of Stanford University at 3:00 pm on Thursday, December 17. It will be followed by a reception at the Stanford Faculty Club. All friends are welcome.