Dr. John C. Alexander, 67, Pharmaceutical Research Executive

John Charles Alexander, 67, died on Dec. 10 at his Princeton home in surrounded by family.

Born on Dec. 28, 1943 in Perth Amboy to the late Charles Alexander and Agnes Alexander, he was raised in Fords and graduated Woodbridge High School in 1961. He earned his Bachelor of Science from St. Francis University and his Doctor of Medicine from St. Louis University, and then went on to complete his internship at Washington University-Barnes Hospital. Upon earning a Master in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Alexander completed his residency in preventative medicine and public health at the Medical College of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. Based in Philadelphia, he also served as a Navy physician during the Vietnam War.

Dr. Alexander began his career in pharmaceutical research with the Squibb Corporation in 1976. After progressing through various positions within clinical research, he was named Senior Vice President, Division of Medical Affairs, responsible for worldwide Phase I-III development in 1986. From 1991 to 1999, he was Executive Vice President, Medical Research at G. D. Searle and Co., where he was responsible for worldwide clinical development. Dr. Alexander joined Sankyo Pharma Inc. in 1999 as President of Development, with responsibility for product development in the U.S. and Europe. In 2004, he became the Global Head of R&D and, in 2006, successfully directed the merger resulting in Daiichi Sankyo Inc. Upon his retirement in 2009, Dr. Alexander formed a consulting company, Alexander Global Consulting, while maintaining his role of Chairman of the Board and consultant for Daiichi Sankyo, U.S. headquarters of Tokyo-based Daiichi Sankyo, Company Ltd.

Throughout his career, Dr. Alexander played a central role in the development of several key products.  Additionally, he was a former president and board member of the Drug Information Association, from which he received an award for lifetime achievement in 2010.

His greatest love was his family. He met his wife, Margie, at a chart rack at St. Louis University Hospital, where John was a medical student and Margie was an In-service Education Instructor. They married in 1969 and had three daughters.

He will be remembered for his boundless generosity, his infectious laugh, his extraordinary leadership, his inspired mentoring, and his unbridled love for his friends and family.

Dr. Alexander is survived by his wife Margie Alexander; daughter Laurie Alexander and her husband Erik Cullen; daughter Jennifer Alexander-Hill and her husband Justin; as well as four grandchildren, Simon Theo, Margaux, and Jack, who was born just a week before his passing.

A visitation was held on Dec. 12 at the Mather Hodge Funeral Home and a memorial service will be held Dec. 17 at Stuart County Day School at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to The Science Center at St. Francis University, Loretto PA (http://francis.edu/CapitalCampaign.aspx) or the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Foundation (http://cinjfoundation.org).