John Butler Babcock

JOHN BUTLER
BABCOCK
ITHACA - John Butler Babcock, 85, of Ithaca, NY died on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Bridges of Cornell Heights surrounded in love by his three daughters. He was the son of the late Howard Edward (H.E.) and Hilda Butler Babcock. His wife, Nancy Keyes Babcock, pre-deceased him in December 2005.
John was raised on Sunnygables Farm of Ithaca, known to many in recent years as Turback's Restaurant. He attended Ithaca public schools through the tenth grade, then studied three years at Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH where in 1941 he earned a degree in English.
He completed pre-medical school courses at Cornell University College of Agriculture and in April 1943 enlisted in the U.S. Army. Following intensive training in the Infantry and attendance at the Army Specialized Training Program, he joined the 78th Infantry Division as a Private. The Division was thrown into action in the Battle of the Bulge, on December 13, 1944. During 127 days of continuous ground combat, John moved up the ranks to Technical Sergeant, commanding a combat platoon of machine guns and mortars.
The Battalion in which he served was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its relentless attacks on the enemy during the capture of the bridge over the Rhine River at Remagen, Germany. John survived wounds received during that battle, but refused evacuation to continue leading his Weapons Platoon until the bridgehead was secured and Germany was defeated. He returned home January 1946 with the rank of First Sergeant. His awards include the combat infantry badge, the Bronze Star for valor in combat, an oak leaf cluster to the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement during the Remagen campaign, the Purple Heart and three ETO battle ribbon stars.
John finished college at Cornell in 1948, and managed an advertising firm serving Southern States Cooperative in Richmond, VA. He returned briefly to Ithaca to run the family farm after his father died in July 1950. He then joined WLW radio, Cincinnati, as a farm broadcast specialist. This started a career in broadcasting where the early days of television attracted the young veteran. His employer, Avco Corporation, operated a group of new TV stations in the Midwest. Babcock built and managed a new ABC network station in Indianapolis.
It was at the wedding of their mutual best friends that John met Nancy Trueman Keyes of Birmingham, MI, enchanting her with his natural charm, good looks, and antic humor. They were married in Detroit on February 7, 1953. They started newly wedded life and a family in Salina, OH where their first daughter, Susan, was born. Two more girls, Nancy and Jeanne, followed in Cincinnati and Indianapolis respectively.
In 1964, John returned to Ithaca permanently where he joined Roy H. Park to build a media empire which he supervised for 19 years of Park ownership. As Chief Operating Officer of Park Broadcasting (later Park Communications), John sought out, evaluated, negotiated, purchased, and then supervised Park radio and television stations, building a 21-station group nationwide. He resigned in 1983 to engage in broadcast station brokerage and consulting.
John authored three books: Farmboy, published by The History Center in Tompkins County, a chronicle of growing up on a pioneering research farm during the Great Depression decade of the 1930s; and Taught to Kill, a riveting personal account of his WWII experiences published by Potomac Books; and he is co-author with Roy H. Park, Jr. of Sons in the Shadow, a memoir about Roy H. Park, Sr., soon to be published by Elderberry Press. Farmboy was made into a documentary film written, directed, and produced by Jake Gorst and executive-produced by John's daughter, Susan. Family members played their ancestors in re-enactments in the film that was broadcast nationwide on PBS. In 2007, the soundtrack won an Emmy Award from the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for original music composition and arrangement.
Since 1988, John was a Director of Park Outdoor where he served as an astute and involved advisor. For two decades, he never missed a single meeting right up until his death.
Active in community affairs, John was a strong supporter of Cornell University where he was recognized as a Foremost Benefactor. He was active in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS); Cornell Plantations, where he served two years as Chairman; and the Johnson Museum. He was a co-founder of the Durland Lecture Series at the Johnson School of Management. At Ithaca College, John was a long-standing member and served as President of the Friends of Ithaca College. He was a member of the Elks, Ithaca Yacht Club, Country Club of Ithaca, and several outdoor and gun clubs. An avid skeet shooter, he raised and trained his own Labrador Retriever hunting dogs.
John was an adoring, and adored, husband and father, delighting his family with silly humor, serious intellectual engagement, and an inspiring life example. He had many admirers of his wit, deep intelligence, and profound ability to connect. He relished the quality and meaning of a long and interesting life in his home town of Ithaca.
Survivors include: Susan Leigh Babcock of Ithaca, NY; Nancy Babcock Perlin (Martin), Ginger (14) and John (12) of Fairfield, CT; Jeanne Babcock Swartz (Mark), Nathan (16) and Hayley (13) of Alpharetta, GA. He was pre-deceased by his sister Barbara Babcock Payne (January 2008) and his brother, Howard Edward Babcock, Jr. He was also a "favorite uncle" of nephews, nieces, and their children on both sides of the family, all of whom had the privilege of personal relationships with him.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, corner of Buffalo and Cayuga St., Ithaca, NY, on Thursday April 17, 2008, at 1:00pm, with Rev. Philip Snyder officiating. Interment will be in East Lawn Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are with Lansing Funeral Home, Lansing, NY 533-8600
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cornell Plantations, care of Don Rakow. The family welcomes communications and remembrances from friends and loved ones through email: johnbabcocktribute@gmail.com.