John H. Kofron

John Harold Kofron, resident of Heron Point, Chestertown passed away peacefully on March 28, 2009. Known to friends and family as Jack, he is survived by Esther his loving wife, daughters Janet and Beth and their families: Michael Lavelle(Janet), sons and daughters-in-law Matthew and Shea, and David and Christine; and John Robson (Beth) and daughters Kristin, Erin and Meredith. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1918 to Grace and Harold Kofron, Jack earned his BA in economics in 1941 from Coe College where he was a member of the Army ROTC and trained as a pilot in the new Civilian Training Pilot Program. He was commissioned as 2nd Lt in the US Army and served with the 6th, 99th, and 1st Infantry Divisions in World War II, seeing action after the Normandy Invasion and during the Battle of the Bulge. At the end of the war, Jack served with the Honor Guard at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial in Germany and was honorably discharged with the rank of major in the Army Reserves. His military decorations included the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon with three Bronze Battle Stars; Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster); Purple Heart; American Campaign Ribbon; American Defense Ribbon; Victory Ribbon; Combat Infantry Badge; Presidential Unit Citation; and the Belgium Fourrageres. Jack continued to serve his country later in life as a member of the National Defense Executive Reserve. Upon returning home from Europe, Jack did graduate studies in economics and statistics at Iowa State University and moved to Philadelphia, PA in 1949 to begin his career as Senior Project Director at National Analysts, Inc. In 1957, he joined The Chilton Company as Director of Research Services and led that company to prominence in consumer, industrial, government and academic marketing research. Jack was named to the Chilton Board of Directors and became Vice President and member of the Executive Committee, and Senior Vice President of Services. From 1976 until his retirement in 1984, Jack was Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Planning, responsible for coordinating with the strategic plan of the American Broadcasting Company, which had become Chilton’s parent company. When he retired from Chilton, Jack was Vice President of Marketing for the London, England-based Thomson International Business Press and Chairman of the Advertising Research Foundation in New York until 1992 when he and Esther moved to Chestertown’s Heron Point. As an active trap shooter, hunter, and deep sea fisherman, Jack loved Maryland’s Eastern Shore and served the Chestertown business community for 8 years as a member of the non-profit business counseling group, SCORE. A celebration and memorial of Jack’s life will be held with family and friends at Wesley Hall, Heron Point at a later date. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Disabled American Veterans, Box 145447, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250; the Heron Point Benevolence Fund, 501 Campus Ave, Chestertown, MD 21620 or Chester River Home Care & Hospice, 6602 Church Hill Rd., Chestertown, MD 21620. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, 130 Speer Rd. Chestertown, MD 21620.