Memorial Service Set For Honorary Lawrenceville School Alum

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — The Lawrenceville School will celebrate the life and mourn the passing of longtime history teacher John Sauerman on Sunday, May 6, 2 p.m. in the Edith Memorial Chapel at The Lawrenceville School, 2500 Main Street, Lawrenceville. All are invited to attend.

His mother, Irma H. Sauerman, brother, Eric W. Sauerman, and sister-in-law Peggy L. Sauerman, all of Long Beach, N.Y. as well as nephews Douglas E. Sauerman (Deer Park, N.Y.) and Ryan C. Sauerman (Washington, D.C.), survive John. His father (Jack E. Sauerman), and brother Karl A. Sauerman, predeceased him. John was 65 years old.

John, born in Elizabeth, N.J. on June 20, 1953, is a graduate of the Peddie School, earned his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Cambridge and his master of arts from Brown University. He is an honorary member of the Lawrenceville School Class of 1984.

John taught history at Lawrenceville from 1977-2017 and was the History Department Chair in the mid- to late 1990s. Over his 40-year tenure, John served as the Housemaster in Haskell House, Assistant Housemaster in the Dickinson and Griswold Houses, Duty Master in the Cleve and Reynolds Houses, and Director of Day Students. He was deeply involved in the Schools’ Performing Arts Program, acting as a director, technical manager, and sometimes actor for the Periwig Club. He led the School’s Reach out to the Arts Program from 1989-2017.

John began teaching with the New Jersey Scholars Program in the mid-1980s and served as Program director from 1989-2016.

“A devoted and passionate teacher, an intellectual leader, a dedicated promoter of the arts--not to mention Housemaster, singer, and actor--John has been a pivotal figure in the Lawrenceville community for decades,” said Lawrenceville Assistant Head Master and English Master Chris Cunningham. “Those of us who have had the good fortune to work with John over the years will miss his powerful intellect, his kindness and generosity, and, of course, his booming voice."