John “Jack” Van Middlesworth Paxton passed away March 29, 2016 at the Summerlin Medical Center in Las Vegas, NV after suffering a stroke.
Jack was born in Jersey City, NJ January 4, 1938 to parents John J. Paxton and Helen Van Middlesworth. He resided much of his young life in Middlebush, NJ. He earned a BA from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY and a MBA from New York University.
Jack met Karlene Reinhardt at Colonial Farms in Middlebush, NJ where they performed with The Villagers theatrical group in “The Italian Straw Hat.” The two were married for 50 years and resided in Princeton, NJ until Karlene’s death in 2013.
His professional life he worked in advertising and marketing for Ted Bates Inc. in New York City and Schrader Research in Cranbury, NJ. Jack founded Jack Paxton and Associates as an independent marketing consultant and enjoyed teaching at Rutgers University.
In 2013 he moved to Las Vegas, NV with his daughter Kristin where he resided for the past three years. Jack will be remembered for his love of fishing, cats and dogs (maybe not by choice), Bloody Mary’s, Mariachi music, the New York Giants, hot peppers and for his wit and sarcasm.
He is survived by his daughter Kristin Paxton, son-in-law Edward Belmont and four grandchildren Sophie, Molly and Maryn Belmont and Grace Conley.
A service will be held for Jack at Stuart Country Day School in Princeton on June 19, 2016 at 3:30 pm.
He will be interred alongside his wife Karlene and daughter Cindy Paxton.
