john haas was employed as a process engineer at rohm and haas as of 1942, working at the bridesburg plant in philadelphia. after serving in the navy during world war ii, he returned to rohm and haas in 1946. he worked as a manager in the company's production facilities in knoxville, tenn., and houston, texas. in houston, he met his future wife, chara a. cooper (1927-2012). the couple were married in n bryn athyn on june 21, 1952. they later lived in wyncote, pennsylvania, and then at stoneleigh, the haas family estate in villanova. they had five children: a daughter, barbara, and four sons, david, leonard, frederick and duncan.