John Abele
John Abele | |
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![]() John Abele speaks at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation's Annual OER Meeting and Creative Commons Global Summit 2017 | |
Born | 1937 (age 83–84) |
Citizenship | American |
Education | Amherst College, 1959 |
Occupation | Businessman and inventor |
Known for | co-founder of Boston Scientific |
Board member of | FIRST Robotics, Argosy Foundation, Rocky Mountain Institute |
Spouse(s) | Mary Abele |
Children | Chris Abele Alex Abele Jeneye Abele |
Parent(s) | Mannert Lincoln Abele Catherine Eaton |
John E. Abele (born 1937) is an American businessman, and the co-founder and a director of Boston Scientific, a medical device company. He was awarded the ASME Medal in 2010.
Biography[]
Early life and education[]
Abele was raised in a "Classic Yankee family,"[1] the youngest of three sons of Catherine (née Eaton)[1] and Lieutenant Commander Mannert Lincoln Abele, USN. His father was the commanding officer of the submarine USS Grunion when the vessel was lost in the Aleutians on July 31, 1942, presumably to enemy action.
John and his brothers later organized, managed, and funded research to locate and photograph the Grunion – which was found in the Bering Sea -, document the cause, and locate relatives of all the crew.[2][3][4] At the age of seven, Abele was stricken with osteomyelitis, a bacterial infection of the bone, requiring multiple surgeries and years of using crutches.[1] He is a graduate of Amherst College with a double major in physics and philosophy[1] (he later served as a trustee).[5]
Career[]
His first job was at a light-fixture company in the Midwest; he later moved back to New England to work for a small medical company near Boston.[1] Soon after he branched out on his own and co-founded Boston Scientific with Peter Nicholas.[6]
He was the Chairman of the Board for FIRST robotics,[7] and served as chairman from 2002 to 2010.[8]
Abele is also a member of the USA Science and Engineering Festival's Advisory Board.[9]
Personal life[]
Abele is married to Mary Abele.[10] They have three children: Chris, Alex, and Jennifer.[10] Chris Abele successfully ran for Milwaukee County executive in 2010.[11]
External links[]
- What REALLY Happened To The USS Grunion Submarine?: John Abele at TEDxBeaconStreet 2013
- Big Think Interview With John Abele 2012
References[]
- ^ a b c d e Amherst College: "Flowers on the Water" by Rand Richards Cooper Spring 2009
- ^ Stevens, Peter (2012). Fatal Dive: Solving the World War II Mystery of the USS Grunion. Regnery History. ISBN 978-1596987678.
- ^ Homans, Charles (2006-08-26). "Long-Lost World War II Sub May Be Found". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
- ^ Business Innovation Factory; "Serendipity, Social Networking and Finding a Needle in a Haystack" retrieved March 8, 2013
- ^ "John E. Abele Profile - Forbes.com". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
- ^ Ebeling, Ashlea. "Boston Scientific Cofounder John Abele Has Big Ambitions In Retirement". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
- ^ "USFIRST.org". USFIRST.org. Archived from the original on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
- ^ "John E. Abele". FIRST. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ USA Science and Engineering Festival – Advisors Archived 2010-04-21 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 2010-07-05
- ^ a b Greater Milwaukee Business Journal: "Foundation moving to Milwaukee – Chris Abele to head family's philanthropy" by Pete Millard November 17, 2002
- ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Sources say Abele planning to run for Milwaukee County executive" By Daniel Bice December 17, 2010
- 1937 births
- Living people
- Boston Scientific people
- Businesspeople from Boston
- Amherst College alumni
- American billionaires
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- ASME Medal recipients
- Philanthropists from Massachusetts