HIGHLAND BEACH — John F. Rand, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died May 4 at his home. He was 99.
Mr. Rand was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, and married his high school sweetheart, Ingeborg Schmitz, in 1946 upon his return from military service. They were married 68 years, until her death.
John was a WWII veteran who joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1942 as a member of the radio communications team for U.S. and Allied forces. He was on one of the famous “Liberty Ships” in an aircraft carrier task force to transport troops and materials to the Southeast Asia theater. He also provided reliable communication links with “Merrill’s Marauders” in Burma to communications headquarters for Gen. Douglas MacArthur and worked in support of the Flying Tigers in Kunming, China.
After the war, he went to the City of New York College and, with language skills in Chinese and Spanish, joined Credit Suisse Americas. He would go on to become the first American in charge of the U.S. main office in New York for North and South America.
John and Inge moved to Highland Beach 40 years ago and bought a home in Bel Lido. He was later elected commissioner and served as vice mayor on the Town Commission.
The couple had three children, son John W. Rand (deceased), (wife Drucilla Rand also deceased) and daughters Linda Ladolcetta (Gary Ladolcetta) and Ingrid Sorensen (Michael Sorensen); six grandchildren, Michael Ladolcetta (Abby), Lauren Nelson (Sean Nelson), Susan Smith (Terry Smith), Elizabeth, Kelly and John P., as well as four great-grandchildren (Terry, Blake, Kara and Logan).
Interment is in South Florida National Cemetery.
— Obituary submitted by the family
Comments