John Jeppson

John Jeppson, retired president and CEO of Norton Company and a civic leader, died on February 10, 2013. He was chairman of the AAS Council from 1977 to 1987. He earned degrees from Amherst College (1938) and Harvard Business School (1940), after which he joined Norton Company in Worcester, Mass., as an industrial engineer until he enlisted in the Navy during World War II, serving as a lieutenant commander. After leaving the Navy in 1945, he returned to Norton Company as a foreman in the Abrasives Division. Although the company itself had been founded by John Jeppson’s grandfather, John Jeppson I, he felt his time spent working his way up through the ranks of employees gave him practical knowledge of the company that served him well when he became president and CEO, a position his father had held before him. After leading the company through years of expansion, he retired in 1985 and was named honorary chairman of the board. He was also a dedicated civic leader, serving on boards and offering support to many cultural and community organizations. Among his roles were trustee and chairman of the board of Clark University, president of the Worcester County Music Association, trustee of the Worcester Art Museum, member of the board of the American Red Cross and the United Way of Worcester, founding incorporator of the Worcester Community Foundation, vice president and trustee of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, and member of the Trinity Lutheran Church council. His extensive work in both business and civics earned him many awards and honors. He received two honorary degrees—from Amherst College and Clark University— and was awarded the prestigious Isaiah Thomas Award for distinguished community service in Worcester. In 2012, he and his wife, Marianne, were joint recipients of the Salisbury Award from the Worcester Art Museum. He was also a tireless champion of AAS, and the Society honored his efforts and loyalty by presenting him with the inaugural Christopher Columbus Baldwin Award in 2001.