James Ben Laughlin ’52

Jim’s father, Ledlie, was a member of the Class of 1912. Jim graduated from Deerfield in 1946. He spent the following year, before joining us, by studying at Spartan University of Aeronautics in Tulsa, becoming an aircraft mechanic and flight instructor. After joining Charter and deciding to major in English, he left to join the Army and worked at an ordnance depot in Tokyo. Upon discharge from the military he returned to complete his studies and graduate with the class.

In 1954 Jim joined the Gallup Poll as director of field personnel, then became Princeton’s assistant dean of students until 1969. He next became a real-estate broker in Princeton, retiring in 1985. He was an enthusiastic full-time volunteer at Princeton’s Blairstown Center for inner-city children. He and his wife, Julia, were delighted longtime owners of a place in Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas, and he served as a commodore of the Hope Town Sailing Club. 

Jim died Feb. 28, 2021, leaving Julia and their children, Ophelia ’81 and James, to whom the class sends its best with appreciation of Jim’s service to Princeton and to our country.