John C. Talbott '64
Deceased October 29, 2015
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In Memory
John Carlile Talbott of Great Falls, Va., passed away peacefully among family and friends on Oct. 29, 2015. Born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, in 1942 to John Charles Talbott and Elisabeth Carlile Talbott, John quickly gained attention as a star athlete and scholar, becoming captain of Poland Seminary High School’s football team, homecoming king and president of the student body. John went on to get his B.A. from Amherst, where he continued to play football and found his new passion, rugby. He then got his J.D. from Cleveland State Law School on a full academic scholarship, graduating summa cum laude.
A prominent lawyer in McLean, Va., John ran his own successful practice, specializing in multifamily housing financing and development for over three decades. Throughout his life, John’s thirst for knowledge, which he always attributed to Amherst, never waned. An avid reader of history, philosophy, physics and biographies, John could expound on nearly any subject, be it Aristotle’s Poetics, black holes or why your car is making that weird noise. He loved pushing not only his mind but also his body and ran several marathons, including the Marine Corps Marathon, finished triathlons and jogged religiously with his best friends every weekend for more than 20 years.
In his free time he enjoyed gardening (caring for plants more than 40 years old) and passionately cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes. John also loved animals and was never without one or two canine companions by his side at home or at the office. A loyal and devoted father, he treasured above all else his relationship with his two daughters, Eliza Talbott and Honora Talbott ’07. John is survived by his daughters, sister Patricia, niece Jennifer, nephew James and four grandnieces. A memorial service will be announced at a later date next spring.
Honora Talbott ’07