John F. Sobke

Savannah, Georgia 31411

Undergrad college/major: Civil Engineering.

Affiliations at Cornell: Phi Gamma Delta.

Advanced degrees: MS in Engineering, Princeton ’69; MS in Political Science, Auburn ’73.

Career/occupation: Army officer, Corps of Engineers 1962 - 95. Engineer Manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff 1996 - 02 with offices in Virginia and the UK.

Honors and awards: Eminent Engineer, Engineer Honorary Society--Tau Beta Pi; Political Science Honorary Society - Pi Sigma Alpha; Army awards - Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star; Meritorious Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Award; Air Medal; Ranger; Society of American Military Engineers - President’s Medal.

Important affiliations: President, The Landings Association, Skidaway Island, Georgia;

Vice Chairman, Savannah Winds Concert Band; Past President, Rotary Club of Skidaway Island; Past Senior Warden, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Savannah, Georgia; Past National Director, Society of American Military Engineers (SAME); Past National Chairman and co-founder, Education Committee, (SAME); Past National Director, American Public Works Association; Past member, Industry Committee, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology; Past Chairman, Board of Visitors, Valley Forge Military Academy.

Marital status: Married, 45 years on 9 June 2011.

Spouse: Marilyn H. Sobke.

Children: Allison Celeste Slaby, Kyle Llewellyn Sobke.

Grandchildren: Daniel, Anna, Adam, Henry.

Outstanding Cornell memory: How you worked like a Turk!

How has your life differed from what you expected? I had no idea what to expect. I was just happy that I made it through and graduated.

Post-grad Cornell activities: Past Board Member, Cornell Engineering Alumni Association; Committee member, Vietnam Memorial; Inducted into the Cornell Army Hall of Fame; Speaker at Cornell ROTC Military Ball.

Personal reflections: I met my wife, Marilyn, in a beer tent at Oktoberfest in Munich, and we were married eight months later in Washington DC. We attended the class fifth year reunion at Cornell on our honeymoon. Subsequently, we lived an exciting and varied life in Germany, Vietnam, Texas, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Buenos Aires, Washington DC, San Francisco, Atlanta, and now—The Landings in Savannah where Doug Fuss and I are neighbors. I retired from the Army with the rank of major general. Marilyn made significant volunteer contributions to military families over many years culminating in a term as President of the National Military Family Association, an advocacy organization for families of the seven uniformed services. We continue to be involved in community and civic work in Savannah. My activities include golf, fitness, and playing the flute.