John E. Dolibois was born December 4, 1918, in Luxembourg. His mother died only weeks later. Young John, or Hansi, as his family called him, was raised by an older sister until she left for Akron, Ohio, with her American husband, whom she had met during World War I when he was with the U.S. Army.
In 1931 John came to Akron with his father and thus began
a fascinating life journey. He graduated from Miami University in 1942, in
time for service as an Armored Force officer and then in Military Intelligence.
In this latter station he assisted in the interrogation of the Nazi war criminals
prior to the Nuremberg trials.
Dolibois reached the rank of captain before returning to Cincinnati to his
wife and young son and his prewar position with Procter and Gamble. In 1947
he went back to his alma mater as Director for Development and Alumni Affairs
and was promoted in 1967 to Vice President for University Relations.
In 1981, after retirement from Miami, Dolibois was called
by President Ronald Reagan to become U>S. Ambassador to Luxembourg. His
appointment came fifty years to the day from his arrival in Akron. His four
years as ambassador are an appropriate chapter of life given to the service
of his adopted country.
John Dolibois retired (again!) in 1985 and resides in Oxford, Ohio, where
he remains active in community and national affairs.