John Cleverdon Honey II, professor emeritus of public policy at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, died on May 17 at the age of 94.
Born in Newark, N.J., on April 7, 1917, he devoted his career to public service and higher education. His special interest was in the interface of government and post-secondary education. He served in World War II in the Air Force.
In the immediate postwar period, Honey went to Washington, D.C., where he worked with the National Science Foundation in its formative years. Subsequently he was an education adviser to the Carter Administration and developed a long-term plan for the federal role in post-secondary education. He also served as the Carnegie Corp.’s officer in charge of public affairs and as a consultant to the Ford Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other government and state agencies on issues related to higher education and government.
During his career he assisted in establishing graduate training institutes related to public service in such countries as Peru, Venezuela, Nigeria and Egypt.
In 1968, Honey joined SU as professor of public policy and vice president for research and governmental affairs. In 1998, he and his wife, Mary Taber Honey, retired to Rhinebeck, N.Y., where they participated in many community activities, such as serving on the village planning board and the Rhinebeck Town Board, and founding and serving on the Rhinebeck Farmers Market Board. He also served as chairman of the Rhinebeck Democratic Committee.
Honey graduated from Bard College—then a college of Columbia University—in 1939, and served on its board of trustees for more than 30 years. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and received an honorary degree from Bard. He received his doctorate in political science from the Maxwell School.
He was the author of many government-sponsored books and other publications. His last book, written largely in retirement, is “Beyond Utopia: Science, Values and the Citizen.”
Honey is survived by his wife of 68 years and by their three children, Martha, Stephen (Tim), and Margaret, and by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by his brother, Thomas, and several nieces and nephews. His sisters Margaret and Carolyn preceded him.
Memorial donations may be made to Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. 12540, or to the Rhinebeck Farmers Market Scholarship Fund, c/o Fran Avirgan, 18 South St., Rhinebeck, N.Y. 12572.
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