James Batcheller ’65

Jim died Feb. 20, 2017, in his home in Henderson, Nev., from the effects of diabetes and pneumonia.

He came to us from Hingham (Mass.) High School. At Princeton he was a member of the undefeated 1964 football team and Tiger Inn.

Jimmy was an intellectual force well-suited for Princeton, unlike his older brother Gordon ’60, who wrote this. Intensely competitive, he relished a battle of wits on almost any subject. Once he reached his conclusion, his opponent could either agree or be dismissed. “I don’t have time to persuade you — I’ll just tell you the truth and hope you’re able to assimilate it.” The battle over, affability could return — as far as Jimmy was concerned. It was a lifelong pattern.

Christian and conservative, he concluded he was not a good fit for an academic career. An active, productive, diverse life followed: master’s degree, osteopath, psychologist, airplane pilot, CEO of Ocelot Airways, scourge of the IRS, soldier (infantry, intel, and field surgeon), parachutist, scuba diver, big-game hunter and fisherman, contract doctor in California women’s prisons, world traveler, multilingual street person, and a life member of the Alaska Trappers Association. A loner, he was fully engaged.

He is survived by his brothers, Terry and Gordon; and a host of cousins, nephews, and nieces; all of whom held him in awe.