James F. Bell ’44

Jim died Feb. 5, 2005, after a series of strokes. He was 82 and a '44 stalwart.

Raised in New Orleans, he prepped at Northwood School in Lake Placid, N.Y. At Princeton registration in 1940, he began a lifelong friendship with Paul Temple. Jim majored in political science, graduating in 1943, was consistently on the dean's list, and won several honors with the Varsity Debating Team.

Jim also was on the Princeton Tiger staff; editor of the Princeton Calendar, and a member of the Woodrow Wilson Honorary Society, Whig-Clio, the Speakers' Bureau, Orange Key, and Tower Club. His roommates included Alex Ardrey, Hud Stoddard, Alan Watson, and Jim Affleck. After commanding a PT boat in the South Pacific in World War II, Jim graduated from Harvard Law School in 1948 and began a prestigious career in Washington, specializing in aviation and banking law. (See the family's Web site at http://www.digitallyexpressed.net/jfbhome.htm).

Jim also found a rewarding spiritual conversion in the Episcopal Church. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jill, "a charming Australian"; a son, Bradley; two daughters, Ashley and Sara; a grandson, Christopher; a brother, Bryan '41; two nieces, Bee Gosnell '78, and Barbara Barrett '86; and a nephew, Bryan Jr. '83. Our deepest sympathy goes to all.

The Class of 1944