John Pendexter
July 5, 1936 — February 8, 2011
While in Jackson he was able to pursue his passion for fly fishing in Wyoming and surrounding states. When he fished, he moved through the brush, over stones, and waded through rivers like the animals that surrounded him while always respecting them and their territory. His love of nature led him to a concern for environmental issues, especially for protecting healthy streams.
John grew up in LaGrange, Illinois, where he excelled in sports and continued his track and football careers at Yale University. His football team won the Ivy League Championship and was undefeated in 1956. He graduated in 1958 and went on to the University of Michigan to earn his M.B.A. That same year, he married his high school sweetheart, Karla Dougan. John worked for Arthur Anderson followed by Booz, Allen Hamilton early in his career as a management consultant specializing in acquisitions and mergers. He started his own consulting business which he ran independently until his retirement.
His life was always an adventure--from taking his family on road trips in the '73 Ford Country Squire and camping throughout the Northeast and eventually the Western states, to trips to Portugal, the Caribbean, Morocco, and, in more recent years to New Zealand, China, France and on various cruises. When his children visited Jackson they called it, "Pendexter Boot Camp" due to the rigorous nature of the treks he led them on, including duct-taped raft trips down the Gros Ventre, sixteen-mile hikes, cross-country ski trips off-the-beaten-path, downhill skiing in all kinds of terrain, and exciting yet treacherous 4-wheel drive adventures in his '88 Subaru.
He will be remembered as a straightforward, strong-willed individual who was courageous and independent. He had a jocular sense of humor. As an old friend wrote to him, "You have the ability to strip away pretense from the foolishness that surrounds us." In parting, or at the end of a personal card or letter, he would often tell family and friends, "Keep smiling!"
He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Karla D. Pendexter, daughter Leslie Perrone, sons Jay and Geoffrey, grandsons Cole and Mason Pendexter, and Nathaniel Perrone. He is also survived by his sisters, Jill Pendexter Theis, Elaine Pendexter Hare, and a brother, James Pendexter, and many nieces and nephews.
An outdoor memorial service is being planned for this spring.
Donations can be made to the following:
Massachusetts General Hospital-Lab of Dr. Sarah Thayer In Memory of John Pendexter 15 Parkman Street WACC 460 Boston, MA 02114
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance 685 S. Cache St. PO Box 2728 Jackson, WY 83001