John Wareham, philanthropist, Olin benefactor and National Council member, dies

John P. "Jack" Wareham, a 1968 graduate of WashU Olin’s MBA program who went on to provide student scholarships, serve on the National Council and lead a global medical device company, died on January 25, 2024. He was 82.

A Midwesterner by birth, Mr. Wareham’s path carried him to pharmacy school at Creighton University in Omaha, where he graduated with multiple honors. He originally worked with his father at a drugstore in Clinton, Iowa—his birthplace—before working his way through business school at WashU.

From there, his career took him to the pharmaceutical company Smith, Kline and French, where he rose through the ranks. Over a series of corporate mergers and career changes, Mr. Wareham eventually became the president and COO of what was then known as Beckman Instruments.

In a statement from the firm’s successor company, AdvaMed President and CEO Scott Whitaker expressed his sorrow over the death of Mr. Wareham.

“My prayers and thoughts are with his family as they grieve and honor his legacy as a husband, father, grandfather and leader who always strived to put patients first,” Whitaker said. “Jack was a titan in the medical technology industry, shaping the way patients receive diagnostic tests and pioneering innovations that improved clinical laboratory testing.”

Jack left an indelible mark on our industry.  

Scott Whitaker

The company honored Mr. Wareham and his contributions to the medical technology industry in 2017 with the Lifetime Achievement Award, given to a pioneer in the sector.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Wareham was a philanthropist who lent his time and financial commitment to WashU Olin. At least six students have benefitted from the Wareham Family Scholarship. He sponsored regular practicum projects for students through the Center for Experiential Learning, and he provided seed funding to advance Olin’s healthcare curriculum and the annual symposium.

In 2019, WashU Olin named Mr. Wareham a distinguished alumnus. He served as a member of Olin’s National Council.

According to his official obituary, Mr. Wareham established the John P. and Lois C. Wareham Foundation, which supports research and scholarship at institutions including Creighton, WashU and the University of California, Irvine Medical Center.

Mr. Wareham was predeceased by his wife, Lois, his parents, two infant sons and his daughter-in-law Noelle (Schwartz) Wareham. He is survived by daughter Jackie (Craig) Hemke of Lenexa, Kansas, and son Matt Wareham (Diana) of Tustin, California; granddaughters Sabrina Wareham of Austin, Texas, Madeline (Ryan) Hostetler of Lone Tree, Colorado, and Samantha Hemke of Omaha, Nebraska; and by brothers Jim (Patricia) Wareham of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jerry (Anne) Wareham of Chagrin Falls, Ohio.