John G. Christy, executive

Posted 6/22/11

John Gilray Christy, 78, of Wyndmoor, a retired corporate executive, died June 10 of complications from a heart condition at Chestnut Hill Hospital. Mr. Christy was the founder of Chestnut Capital …

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John G. Christy, executive

Posted

John Gilray Christy, 78, of Wyndmoor, a retired corporate executive, died June 10 of complications from a heart condition at Chestnut Hill Hospital.

Mr. Christy was the founder of Chestnut Capital Corp., a firm that invested in “green”-focused companies. Earlier he was the CEO of IU International in Philadelphia, an international holding company that owned a variety of utilities.

Mr. Christy and his wife, the former Helen Jones, had lived in Chestnut Hill for more than two decades.

Raised in Silver Creek, N.Y., Mr. Christy received a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and master’s degree in South Asian Studies from the University of California at Berkeley. He served in the Navy as a pilot flying jets from aircraft carriers.

After leaving the service, he worked with the Development Loan Fund (AID) in India and for a time with ITT in New York.

Mr. Christy was a former board member of Fidelity Bank, the Philadelphia Contributionship, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Eisenhower Fellowship.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Andrew R. Christy; a daughter, Jennifer C. MacNeill; three stepchildren; sisters Mary Lou Van Orman, of Reading, and Jean Mallery, of Cobleskill, N.Y.; five grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. – WF

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