John Rand Dies At 90 - 27 East

John Rand Dies At 90

icon 1 Photo

author on May 30, 2011

John Born Rand

John Rand of Bridgehampton and Manhattan died from complications of Parkinson’s disease and pneumonia on Wednesday, May 25, four days after his 90th birthday.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1921, Mr. Rand graduated from the Chicago Latin School, then Phillips Exeter Academy, and Harvard. While at Harvard, he acted with the famed New England Repertory, also known as The Provincetown Players. In World War II, he served as a captain in the anti-aircraft artillery and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. At the end of the war, because of his fluency in French, Mr. Rand served as special service officer at Camp Top Hat, the American City in Antwerp, Belgium, where he directed theater productions and other entertainment for troops and visiting VIPs.

Back in the United States, he was named “Young Man of the Year” by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and soon married Judith Lane of St. Paul, Minnesota. The couple wrote and directed a satirical revue called “Quick Changes,” which had a highly successful multi-year run in Chicago’s Near North Side.

Mr. Rand then began a 50-year career in advertising, first as a copywriter at Foote Cone and Belding in Chicago, and then as a senior vice president and creative director at Ogilvy and Mather in New York City, where he was recognized as a top talent in the business by master ad man, David Ogilvy. He was responsible for award-winning campaigns for Hallmark, Kleenex, Sears, Aim Toothpaste, Dove, S.C. Johnson and Mattel, among others. While at Ogilvy, Mr. Rand was responsible for the firm’s chief charitable program, the sponsorship of a block in East Harlem under the auspices of the Upper Park Avenue Community Association.

Mr. Rand retired to Bridgehampton, where he was an active member of the local Citizens Advisory Committee. He wrote a weekly column for The Southampton Press, called “Junior Seniors” which highlighted the lives of vibrant seniors on the East End of Long Island. He also wrote newsletters and marketing materials for Southampton Hospital, among other community organizations. He was an avid equestrian who rode weekly at Montauk’s Deep Hollow Ranch, well into his eighties.

Beyond all of his professional success, Mr. Rand won scores of friends and admirers for his true joie de vivre—his over-the-top humor, rare graciousness and infectious optimism.

He is survived by his daughters, Hilary Adams and Eliza Damiecki; and five grandchildren, Natalie, Genevieve and Griffin Adams, and Nina Ting and Ellie Tong Damiecki. His wife, Judy, also a writer of prose, poetry and film, died of cancer at age 64.

A private memorial will be held in July.

Memorial donations can be made to the Children’s Storefront School in East Harlem, thechildrensstorefrontschool.org, 70 East 129th Street, New York, NY 10035, (212) 427-7900.

You May Also Like:

Southampton July 4th Parade Delights Crowd

The Southampton July Fourth parade was held on Friday morning and did not disappoint with ... 7 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

Come and Tell Us

When Tim Bishop was our congressman, he held numerous town hall meetings with his constituents. They were raucous affairs. Those were the days of the Tea Party, and its members were outraged that the federal government was expanding health care insurance to millions of Americans. And they let Congressman Bishop know it. Usually loudly and sometimes rudely. They seemed unmoved that thousands of their fellow Americans were being driven to bankruptcy by medical debt. They were unconcerned that thousands were dying prematurely due to their lack of access to affordable health care. Many I spoke to seemed more worried that ... by Staff Writer

A Suggestion

I have a suggestion for Craig Catalanotto, who is on record for opposing cross-endorsements and for allegedly switching alliances from Democratic to Republican Party candidates, such as Cyndi McNamara and Stephen Kiely. When the Pine Barrens Commission was in the process of reviewing a proposed golf course development in East Quogue (known as the Lewis Road Planned Residential District, or PRD), I wrote to the commission recommending that a task force be formed to investigate land use on the Lewis Road corridor. The area in question is easy to investigate. One side of Lewis Road includes a sand mine adjacent ... by Staff Writer

Followed Their Lead

While I respect the journalistic integrity of The Southampton Press, I disagree with your editorial awarding the Southampton Village Ethics Board a “dunce cap” for Open Meetings Law violations [“Gold Stars and Dunce Caps,” Editorial, July 3]. The Ethics Board may very well have failed to follow procedural notice requirements. But the dunce cap belongs to the village mayor and his board majority, whose job it is to ensure that all appointed boards receive proper, up-to-date training in the Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Law. The mayor and board must mandate training for themselves and all regulatory boards. ... by Staff Writer

Shooting Wildly

As a 30-year litigation-scarred veteran of the sand mining/composting wars waged in Southampton Village and Town, I am a proponent of the amortization of sand mines proposed by the town. In our battles, we were up against the “pre-existing use” free pass, and the town’s and village’s “maintenance” of the sites to dump whatever they chose to, and their reluctance to enforce existing laws, or impose any oversight, which allowed for all manner of activities to flourish. Thrown into the trenches, we learned firsthand how the public was ignored, then penalized; how the inspectors applied existing law selectively; how the ... by Staff Writer

Wonderful Turnout

On behalf of the Fourth of July Parade Committee and the Southampton Village Commission on Veterans Patriotic Events, I would like to thank the community for such a wonderful turnout for the Fourth of July parade. I would like to thank the Village of Southampton employees, police department and Chief Suzanne Hurteau, fire department and Chief Polis Walker, Volunteer Ambulance and Chief Christopher Epley, and the Board of Trustees and Mayor Bill Manger. I also would like to thank the large group of volunteers who stepped up this year when we were concerned that we were not generating enough support ... by Staff Writer

A More Nimble Plan

“It feels like Southampton has lost its soul.” That’s how one local merchant recently described the state of our village business district. Many would agree. Local businesses reported a soft July 4, but a much better July 5 and 6. Just a few miles away, East Hampton and Sag Harbor reported a record weekend. In East Hampton, stores are now staying open late to meet the demand. Southampton Village, by contrast, looked neglected. Trash swirled in the air. Sidewalks were stained and littered with candy wrappers and gum. Mismatched waste receptacles overflowed. This is not the look or feel of ... by Staff Writer

A Simpler Solution

It has taken me a few weeks to respond to the recent “Cup o’ Joe” newsletter, where Executive Editor Joe Shaw ventured onto an editorial limb, venting about village issues, particularly the controversy surrounding Pond Lane. Let’s set the record straight. First, a beautiful proposal, indeed, was submitted to convert the vacant parcel of land into a park. However, this initial proposal did not involve closing Pond Lane. The subsequent idea of transforming Pond Lane into a bike and walking path — what I regard as “the bike path to nowhere” — is impractical at best. You implied that I ... by Staff Writer

SAT Prep Course Offered by Child Care Center

The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center is offering an SAT prep course ahead of the August 23 test date. Classes will be held Mondays in July and August, with an additional session on Wednesday, August 13, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The cost is $40 and includes a workbook; scholarships are available. To register, email Camryn@bhccrc.org or call 631-537-0616. The center is located at 551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike.
“SAT Prep can be an important part of that journey,” said executive director Bonnie Michelle Cannon. by Staff Writer

Jazz Mass In Bridgehampton On Sunday

St Ann’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Bridgehampton will host its annual Jazz Mass on Sunday, July 13, at 10 a.m. All are welcome. The band will include Ada Rovatti and Eric Schugren on saxophone; Mike Gari, guitar; John Mele, drums; and Steve Shaughnessy, bass. The choir will sing Bob Chilcott’s “Little Jazz Mass,” and all are encouraged to join in singing the hymns. A hospitality hour for all follows the service. by Staff Writer