Barbara Neukom Bohn ’61 dedicated her life to championing diplomacy, education and humanitarian efforts.
Pomona’s 1962 Homecoming Royalty, including Bohn, then Neukom: from left, Chris Weideranders ’64, Geneva Hemley ’63, Alicia Metcalf ’61, Natalie Greenleaf ’62 and Barbara Neukom ’61.
For Barbara Neukom Bohn ’61, global citizenship wasn’t just an ideal — it was her life’s purpose. By the time she arrived at Pomona College, Bohn was already a world traveler and spoke several languages. Guided by values instilled by her family and strengthened at Pomona, she became a champion of cross-cultural understanding and human connection.
Bohn, who passed away Nov. 20, 2024, at the age of 85, left a legacy as far-reaching as the many places she called home. “Barbara was a beacon of intellectual curiosity and a student of the world,” says her husband, John Bohn. “She left a profound impact on the many people she inspired and communities she served.”
Her passion for international relations, he says, began with her parents — John and Ruth Neukom — who instilled a deep curiosity about the world in their children. As a high school student, Bohn spent a year in Europe, enrolled at the University of Geneva, taking all her courses in French. She later studied in Germany, living with a host family and learning the language and culture. Holiday breaks found her traveling by train across the European continent, immersing herself in the cultures, traditions and history.
The next train ride carried her from San Francisco to Pomona, where she majored in international relations and accounting. John Bohn says that his wife’s studies would become the cornerstone of her life’s work, igniting an enduring interest in Asia that would take her to Japan, the Philippines and beyond.
A Life Without Borders
Following Pomona, she joined the United States Point 4 Program, which distributed aid to Asia. She was preparing to serve in Burma when she met John Bohn. The couple wed in San Francisco, the beginning of a 63-year marriage. Their first move was to Guam, where Bohn became deputy economist for the Guamanian government, working on development for the Trust Territory of the Pacific.
Later, they relocated to Japan, and then the Philippines, where Bohn navigated delicate diplomatic and business circles — balancing her roles as cultural ambassador with motherhood. Determined to broaden her children’s horizons, she once took her three eldest on a solo trip through Asia and Europe. “Our children — Linnea, John, Maya and Cameron — were shaped, in large, by their mother’s adventurous spirit,” says John Bohn.
True to the inscription on the College Gates, Bohn bore her added riches in every corner of the world. In Davos, Switzerland, she attended the very early World Economic Forum meetings. In New York City, she established a branch of Nadeshiko-kai — a group founded in Japan after the World War II by an influential group of Japanese and American women. In the Philippines, she championed the welfare of Vietnamese refugee children.
“Barbara’s remarkable journey included glamorous moments, from gracing runways as a model to engaging with international dignitaries. Each experience underscored her grace, intellect, thoughtfulness and captivating presence,” John Bohn says. “She always found a larger purpose wherever she was. Her legacy serves as a constant reminder to us of the many perspectives through which the richness of life can be viewed.”
Bohn is survived by her husband of 63 years, John; her children Linnea, John, Maya and Cameron; her grandchildren Nikayla, William, Jaxu, Julan, Ethan and Sandor, step-granddaughter, Neipori; and her brothers, David and Dan Neukom.
Barbara Neukom Bohn ’61 is being honored through memorial gifts supporting Pomona’s global initiatives, reflecting her lifelong commitment to international affairs. Visit our website to make a gift.