Paul John

Paul John, 81, died early Monday morning, the 19th of November. He was born in 1926 in Morgantown, West Virginia, son of Everette G. and Edith John.

Paul attended the University of Michigan at the age of 16 and was in the graduating class of 1946. While in college, he volunteered for the job of providing "orientation" to new students entering the University. He served as an officer for his Fraternity, Delta Upsilon. He also served on the school's Michigan Development Council fund raising.

Paul was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force but that was short lived as the war ended and he entered the work force. His entrée into advertising started with the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson office in Detroit. He followed that with a job for a Milwaukee based printing company.

In 1956 Paul moved to Campbell-Ewald, one of the advertising agencies for General Motors, creating advertising for Chevrolet. His talent for marketing and helping people blended together in many of his creative ideas. He led the Chevrolet client into big-time television sponsorship advertising on the programs, "Bonanza", "My Three Sons" and "Route 66". In the college football world, he created the "Chevrolet Player of the Game", a recognition that continues today with a 40 year legacy of contributing nearly 10 million dollars in scholarship funds.

At the agency, Paul became Chairman/CEO in 1985. He retired after 30 years with Campbell-Ewald.

In his retirement, Paul and his wife Nancy, returned to her roots 3rd generation San Franciscan and settled in Carmel, where they had been married at the Church of the Wayfarer 52 years prior.

Retirement never slowed him down. Paul purchased Ocean Chevrolet, later to include Honda, which is now run by his son Steve. Paul was also on the Board of Directors of the Monterey Institute of International Studies and of the Beacon House. He was a member of the Old Capital Club, Monterey Peninsula Country Club and the Beach and Tennis Club. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing bridge.

Paul will be remembered by his family and many friends as generous, helpful, positive, kind and funny. He had a great zest for life and was definitely a man of action. Above all, he was devoted to his family.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, his children Steve and his wife Lisa and their children Alexa and Kyle, Tina Grippi and her husband Chris and their children Danielle and Joanna and his sister Patricia Cochran of Burlington, Vermont. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert John of New York City.

A private service will be held by his family at a later date. Contributions in his name may be made to the First Tee of Monterey County, 1551 Beacon Hill Drive, Salinas, CA 93905.