In Memoriam: John Wynne, 82

Corporate Secretary for Manny Hanny, Chemical, Chase

John Wynne Sr., 82, a resident of Greenwich, CT for 46 years, died peacefully at home on Thursday, November 15, 2012.

He served as General Counsel and Corporate secretary for the Chemical Bank through the merger with Manufacturers Hanover Corporation. After the merger, he remained on as corporate secretary of the combined bank. Chemical Banking Corporation merged again on March 31, 1996 with the Chase Manhattan Corporation, where he remained Corporate Secretary until his retirement in May of 1996.

Upon graduation from Trinity College, Hartford, CT, in 1952, he was given a commission to the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant serving in Japan and Korea. After his military service he earned his law degree at New York University School of Law. He started off his career in Manhattan at the Federal Reserve Bank, where he worked for five years, and joined the Chemical Bank in 1963 as an assistant legal officer. He was named resident counsel in 1967, vice president and counsel in 1969, secretary and general counsel in 1972 and senior vice president in 1977. He attended Harvard Business School's Program for Management Development and served as president of his class. He was a member of the New York State Advisory Committee of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, the American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association, New York City Bar Association and the New York State Bar association. He lectured extensively on bank regulatory topics to various professional and academic groups throughout the United States. 

Throughout his life he believed in the power of volunteerism, serving first as president of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America in Washington, DC for three years. He then went on to serve two three-year terms as the National Chairman for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, with the full support of the chairman of the bank, Walter V. Shipley. He travelled constantly to 40 states for speaking engagements, conferences and fund raisers. He was honored at the White House by President Ronald W. Reagan, and during the administration of George H.W. Bush, was honored by First Lady Barbara Bush for his philanthropic activities with both organizations.

He was active locally in organizing the Greenwich Elementary Catholic School System and bussing for all non-public school children. The great loves of his life after his family were his bloodhound "Chase", a retirement gift, his classical music collection, his season tickets to the Metropolitan Opera house and Carnegie Hall, and the New York Yankees.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sally, five children, 13 grandchildren, two sisters and 24 nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 12:00 noon at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 761 King Street and Comly Ave, Rye Brook, NY, followed by a reception at the Doral Arrowwood, 975 Anderson Hill Road, Rye Brook, NY. Condolences and e-mail messages may be sent to: tonywynne@msn.com or to: www.legacy.com

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Alumni and colleagues wishing to share remembrances on this site should send them to: news@chasealum.org.

From Ron Mayer: Over the years, I had met John a number of times through the corporate secretary and Federal Reserve Bank of New York alumni networks. However, I never really knew him until 1995 when it came time to integrate the Chase and Chemical corporate secretary offices. John was a gentleman and true professional. He was a pleasure to deal with during a stressful period when pleasure was in short supply.