John Sergeant Wise Jr.

1934 - 2025

John Sergeant Wise Jr.

October 1, 1934 - February 5, 2025

John Sergeant Wise, Jr. passed peacefully on February 5, 2025, at his Kiptopeke Aviaries Farm in Summerdale, Alabama. He was the son of John Sergeant Wise and Elizabeth Thompson Wise of Charlottesville, Virginia, and was a retired wildlife biologist and consultant forester.

He attended high school at St. Mark's School in Southborough, Massachusetts, and received a B.A. degree from the University of Virginia, where he participated in five varsity sports. He later earned a B.S. degree in Forestry and an M.S. degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Georgia.

He was one of the original Green Berets, serving in the Korean War. Later, he served as the Commander of V.F.W. Post 5850.

He was an alligator biologist in the Everglades and was instrumental in having alligators placed on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species List.

He worked for the Alabama Department of Conservation and retired in 1984.

He was a tennis professional, where he brought the enjoyment of the sport to hundreds of students, both young and old.

He worked in Georgia and Alabama as a consultant wildlife biologist and forester, being licensed in both states for more than 30 years. He became renowned for his work in this field and has supported more than 20 conservation organizations during his lifetime.

He spent the last 30 years as an agriculturalist, raising numerous species of exotic pheasants and waterfowl.

He was a direct descendant of Martha Washington and the great, great, grandson of Henry A. Wise, governor of Virginia (18571860).

He is survived by one daughter, Hannah Wise Orlowski (David) of Albany, Georgia; two sons, John S. Wise, III (Connie) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Henry A. Wise, IV (Paige) of Fairhope, Alabama; as well as nine grandchildren, Maddox, Sergeant, Mary Locke, Hayden, Hannah, Carson, Parker, and Harper; and one great-grandchild, Lily. He was predeceased in death by one grandson, Henry. Other survivors include two brothers, Dr. Henry A. Wise, II (late Joshan) of Columbus, Ohio, and E. Tayloe Wise (Donna) of Leo, Indiana, and dear friend and companion, Patricia Sanders.

A graveside service will be conducted at a later date at the Wise family cemetery in Accomac, Virginia on land acquired by a grant from King Charles, II of England to John S. Wise in 1655.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Society, Scotland Neck, North Carolina. or South Alabama Land Trust (formerly Weeks Bay Foundation), Fairhope, Alabama.