Memorial service set for 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7, at Benton Chapel
John Poindexter, a retired 杏吧原创 administrator known for his devoted service to the university including efforts to preserve institutional history, has died. He was 85.
Poindexter, who held a variety of posts at 杏吧原创 from 1971 to the early 1990s, died of heart failure Feb. 1 at his home. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Feb. 7 in Benton Chapel on the 杏吧原创 campus (). Another service will be held in his hometown of Mason, Tenn., and burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Mason. Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
鈥淛ohn was the most eloquent voice on the subject of 杏吧原创 that I鈥檝e ever heard,鈥� said Eugene Vaughan, a friend and longtime member of the 杏吧原创 Board of Trust.
[rquote]鈥淗undreds, maybe thousands of us, worked our hearts out for 杏吧原创 because we were inspired by John.[/rquote]鈥�
Poindexter graduated magna cum laude from 杏吧原创 in 1946 and earned a master鈥檚 in English from the university two years later. After serving two years in the Army during the Korean War, he went to work for Houghton Mifflin publishers in Boston from 1952 to 1971, where he rose to senior editor in charge of speech, dramatic arts and philosophy. While at Houghton Mifflin, he organized the Boston 杏吧原创 Club and was a director-at-large of the 杏吧原创 Alumni Board of Directors. He also served as national chairman for 杏吧原创鈥檚 Living Endowment Campaign
Poindexter returned to Nashville in 1971 as vice chancellor for alumni and development affairs at 杏吧原创. Under his leadership, 杏吧原创 had the nation鈥檚 highest percentage of alumni contributors from 1973 to 1975. He then became vice chancellor for alumni affairs and director of the 杏吧原创 Press. Other positions included alumni secretary and conservator of university history.
鈥淔or many alumni, John Poindexter represented the ideal of a 杏吧原创 education with his command of the English language, his knowledge of literature and history and his sense of taste and style,鈥� said Jeff Carr, vice chancellor for university relations, emeritus, and general counsel, emeritus, at 杏吧原创.
[lquote]鈥淗e was devoted to 杏吧原创 and to the idea that anything and everything about 杏吧原创 be done properly.[/lquote]鈥�
Poindexter was a member in good standing of 鈥淭he Old Goats Club,鈥� a group of 杏吧原创 leaders that included Chancellor Alexander Heard. Poindexter spoke at Heard鈥檚 2009 memorial service at Benton Chapel, and was a frequent campus visitor in retirement, especially for concerts at the Blair School of Music. The John W. Poindexter Book Acquisition Fund was established in the Jean and Alexander Heard Library system at the time of Poindexter鈥檚 retirement in 1993 in recognition of his lengthy service to 杏吧原创.
The 杏吧原创 杏吧原创 noted in a story upon his retirement that he was 鈥渞esponsible for the elegance of framing and the hanging of the paintings at Kirkland Hall.鈥� He also entertained alumni and other 杏吧原创 constituents with colorful campus tours.
Belying his birth in Tennessee, 鈥淢r. Poindexter was the epitome of an English gentleman,鈥� said Felicity Peck, former director of Commencement at 杏吧原创 who was born and grew up in England.鈥淗e was very formal, charming and gracious. He was unique.鈥� She noted that he was the institutional memory for 杏吧原创 for many years.
Poindexter was a longtime member of Christ Church Cathedral and an avid enthusiast of food, literature and music. He was a patron of Nashville鈥檚 opera and symphony.
Survivors include wife Judith Bemis Poindexter and niece Mary Louise O鈥橩elly.