John Laibe

1928 - 2015

Laibe, John W.
John William Laibe, of Greenwich CT and Nantucket MA passed away March 29 after a prolonged illness.
Born Feb. 4, 1928 to the late Mark William and Lauretta Hayes Laibe and raised in Akron, OH, John attended Buchtel High School and Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in 1951. John was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity and member of the track team. Among his fondest memories of his Cornell days was a trip to England he made with the track team, in which they competed against Oxford and Cambridge and met Roger Banister.
After graduation, John went to work for Enjay Chemical company, leaving after two years to serve as an officer in the U.S. Navy, first at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and then in Subic Bay, Philippines. Upon his return to the U.S. he rejoined Enjay (future Exxon), where he spent his entire career, rising to Vice President and President positions in New York, Hong Kong, Miami and Darien, CT, retiring in 1993. These postings gave the entire Laibe family many treasured experiences in faraway lands.
In addition to his Exxon tenure, his career included service on various corporate and community boards of directors, including Chairman of Acheson Chemical Company and Cell-O-Core, whose founder introduced John to his adored wife of 57 years, Ann Jesse Davis Laibe, who survives him.
His community leadership extended to organizations as diverse as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Mary's School of Greenwich, and Sankaty Head Golf Club.
John's optimism in both life and business was unquenchable and infectious, and it combined with a tenacity that would never allow him to give up on any challenge. He would in turn challenge others to share that outlook and to seek out creative ways to surmount their own obstacles. Anyone approaching him could expect a quip, an uplifting comment, and an offer of help.
John held a lifelong passion for the game of golf, which he pursued as a member of the Stanwich Club, Sankaty Head Golf Club and the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club, along with countless other courses around the world. It was the setting for both business and personal interaction. For over fifty years, he eagerly anticipated their annual visit to Nantucket for its beauty and the prospect of golf at Sankaty.
In addition to Ann, he is survived by daughter Anne Laibe Bertolino and her husband Jerome, of Boxborough MA; sons Marc and his wife Liza, of Rowayton CT; Christopher and his wife Lynne of New Orleans LA; and Timothy, of Rochester NY, along with 16 grandchildren. His daughter Constance Laibe Hays preceded him in death in 2005; her beloved husband John is a close member of the family.
A mass of Christian burial will be held April 7 at 11:00 am at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in John's name to the Sankaty Head Foundation, PO Box 875, Siasconset, MA 02564.