John Adam Seeger

Born on July 11, 1933 in Evanston, Illinois, to Jeannette Bresnan Seeger and Gerald Seeger, John lived in many parts of the country as his father, a manager for Montgomery Ward, moved as part of his work. John was the middle child of three: brother to older sister Dorothy and to younger brother Philip. All three siblings developed a love of travel and education which carried into adulthood.

John graduated from El Paso High School in Texas in 1951. Because his love of writing was supported by his parents, he developed as a writer for the school newspaper. From high school, John went on to the University of Texas at El Paso and became a Kappa Sigma fraternity brother. In two years, John transferred to MIT as a member of the Class of 1956, joining Kappa Sigma’s Gamma Pi chapter. Later in life, John became an assistant district grand master for Kappa Sigma, helping to oversee funding for the Gamma Pi chapter.

After graduating from MIT, John became involved in various work, from managing data processing to systems engineering. In the late 1960s and early 70s, John worked for the preeminent world systems dynamicist Dr. Jay Forester at MIT whose primary focus was on the sustainability of scarce world resources. John was involved with the creation and publication of the renowned “The Limits To Growth” book, a collaboration among Forester’s group, environmental scientist Donella Meadows and the Club of Rome. John’s interest in the application of environmental sustainability and systems analysis to business models eventually led him to Harvard Business School where he earned his doctorate in business administration in 1978.

During John’s academic career, he became known as a distinguished business case researcher and writer, eventually becoming the editor in chief of the Case Research Journal, and a president of the North American Case Research Association. John loved to write cases about businesses and their strategic problems. He often said that cases “should sing a story to the students.” Awarded for his case writing and teaching skills, including intercollegiate case competitions with his Bentley University teaching partner Dr. Louis Chin, John was a respected business strategy professor, first at Northeastern University and then at Bentley University, where he earned a full professorship, and eventually professor emeritus.

In John’s personal life, one of his greatest joys was being Jeff’s dad. John was very proud to be on the board of Jeff’s company and to be of assistance when needed. Jeff and daughter-in-law Barbara and John’s granddaughter Tina were especially close to his heart and soul. Summer trips to Mount Rainier to see granddaughter Tina, an astronomy ranger, were especially rewarding for John.

A Temporary Goodbye:

Besides son Jeff and his wife Barbara of Pepperell, MA, and granddaughter Tina of Bellingham, Washington, John leaves his loving wife, co-author and partner of 34 years, Marie Rock of Sudbury, MA, and his beloved brother Phil Seeger and sister-in-law Barbara Teague Seeger of Los Alamos, N.M. and his beloved sister Dorothy Seeger, of Oakland, CA, He leaves his beloved sister-in-law, Elaine Lindroth, and her partner Wendell Hinds, of Savannah, GA and brothers-in-law David and Jim. He leaves much loved nieces, Louise, Delia, Carol Anne, Marianna and Sam; and nephews Gerald, Lee, Jerry, Archer, John, Jim and Pat, and grand nieces and grand nephews.

John leaves many close friends, including fellow sports buffs, the Hixsons, and Paula Lambert, his former trainer who helped him stay in shape for many years. John also leaves his many friends and collaborators from Academia: Ray Kinnunen, Lou Chin, Bill and Peggy Naumes, Tim Edlund and Debbie Ettington, among them. John leaves beloved current and former members of his close-knit neighborhood and the Sudbury Senior Center, especially the Short Story Reading Group and his fellow “fitness friends,” and all who will miss him dearly.

He will greet them in heaven.