John L. Loeb, Jr., HON ’24, who funded the establishment of the Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. Institute for Religious Freedom and Democracy at the George Washington University in 2016 with a $2.5 million endowment, passed away on Aug. 5. He was 96 years old.
Loeb, a businessman, diplomat and philanthropist who served as the United States ambassador to Denmark, founded the George Washington Institute for Religious Freedom (GWIRF) in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2009. The original institute offered educational programs based in Newport, and partnered with civic organizations to reach tens of thousands of students throughout the northeast. Following the 2016 donation to GW by the John L. Loeb, Jr. Foundation GWIRF’s educational programs were transferred over to the university.
The Loeb Institute for Religious Freedom and Democracy at GW has since fostered dialogue on religious understanding and the separation of church and state, and has served as a center for academic collaboration in religion, peace studies, history, political science and other programs for scholars, students, educators and the public at large.
“Ambassador Loeb’s distinguished diplomatic service and extraordinary philanthropic vision left an enduring mark on the world,” said GW President Ellen M. Granberg. “His legacy will forever shape the George Washington University, particularly through his commitment to strengthening our understanding of how religious freedom contributes to strong, healthy democracies. I am personally grateful for the privilege of having known him and will cherish the memory of many wonderful visits with him and his wife, Sharon. The university deeply values the enduring partnership we built together, which is rooted in fostering mutual understanding and sincere respect for all faiths and beliefs.”
Loeb received an honorary Doctor of Public Service from GW in 2024.
“John Loeb was a towering figure in both business and public service, but it was his unwavering commitment to philanthropy and fostering dialogue and understanding across religious and political divides that has left a lasting mark at GW,” said Paul Wahlbeck, dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS). “The establishment of the Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. Institute for Religious Freedom and Democracy within CCAS will build on that remarkable legacy, creating a lasting platform for meaningful engagement and ensuring his vision continues to inspire future generations.”
After graduating cum laude in 1952 from Harvard and receiving his M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School in 1954, Loeb was a senior partner in Loeb, Rhoades & Co., a major Wall Street investment banking and brokerage firm founded by his father and grandfather, from 1956 to 1976. He served as a director of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Rio Grande Industries and John Morrell & Co., among other corporations.
Loeb had a distinguished career in public service. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed him as the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, a post he held until 1983. He also served as a delegate to the 38th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In his native New York, Loeb was an adviser to Governor Nelson Rockefeller on environmental and economic affairs and served as chairman of the Governor’s New York State Council of Environmental Advisors.
For his work as chairman of the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States, he received the designation of CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994. Among his many awards and recognitions, Loeb received the 2015 Emma Lazarus Statue of Liberty Award from the American Jewish Historical Society for his work promoting religious freedom. He is a descendant of Emma Lazarus, the poet whose famous lines from a sonnet are engraved in a bronze plaque on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.
In addition to his contributions at GW, Loeb was a trustee of American University and served on numerous Harvard visiting committees, including the John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard Business School. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Georgetown University.
Loeb is survived by his wife, Sharon Handler Loeb, two children and five grandchildren.
Reflecting on his life, Loeb said: “I have sought peace in my own heart and explored ways to teach young people how to live with more than tolerance—to live with warmth and understanding of people whose backgrounds are different from one's own.”