John Robert Droege

John Robert Droege, (age 85) of Potomac, Maryland, died on October 2, 2011. Mr. Droege was born November 3, 1925 in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1943, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was a pilot in the U.S. Air Corps at the end of World War II, and after his service, entered law school at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Law. He received his LLB degree in 1949, and later his B.A and J.D degrees. Mr. Droege was a member of the Ohio and D.C bars, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. He was an Eagle Scout and a Mason.

Mr. Droege joined Hot Shoppes, Inc in 1956 as Assistant Real Estate Manager. He and one other attorney formed the first in-house Legal Department for the company, which later become Marriott Hot Shoppes, Inc., and subsequently The Marriott Corporation. Marriott appointed Mr. Droege to the position of Corporate Vice President for Real Estate Development, where he served until his retirement in 1983, serving in the company for 25 years.

Mr. Droege enjoyed sailing, automobiles, amateur radio, and building and flying radio controlled model aircraft. Both Mr. and Mrs. Droege endowed the Droege Law Center at the University Of Cincinnati College Of Law, for the advanced studies of graduate lawyers and the many research efforts in the area of law now being promulgated at the College.

His wife and life long companion of 63 years, Beverly Scott Droege; his son, Gregory Scott Droege; and his granddaughter Kimberly Ann Droege survives Mr. Droege. His grandson, John Scott Droege, preceded Mr. Droege in death.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Droege asks that donations be sent to the UC Law/Droege Center, University of Cincinnati College of Law, PO Box 210040, Cincinnati, OH 45221.

Arrangements under the direction of Witzke Funeral Homes Inc., Columbia, MD.