John Alan Grefe (September 6, 1947 – December 22, 2013) was an American International Master of chess.
Grefe and Stuart Rachels are the only players since 1948 to have won or shared the U.S. Championship without already having, or having later achieved, the title of International Grandmaster.
Grefe, at the time he shared the championship, lived in Berkeley, California, and was a follower of the Guru Maharaj Ji.
For that reason and also because of his hippyish appearance, Grefe was affectionately known as "Gandalf" amongst chess friends.
Grefe died of liver cancer on December 22, 2013, in San Francisco, California.