James H. Armstrong ’52

Jim’s father was James N., a member of the Class of 1920. Jim graduated from Blair Academy, and at Princeton he majored in biology, joined Elm, played in the band, and served on the Presbyterian Student Council. He roomed with Dan Ost and Marvin Lauritsen. 

Jim went on to earn a medical degree at New York Medical College in 1957. He served in the Navy for two years before practicing medicine in Kalispell, Mont. His medicine was exceptionally thoughtful, as we saw in his essay for The Book of Our History. 

He performed abortions and was recognized by the Jeannette Rankin Civil Liberties Award in 1995, a year after his office was destroyed by arson. He was active in a number of medical associations and in his community. 

Jim died Dec. 20, 2016. He is survived by his children, James ’86 and Maria ’84; and his partner, Leslie Walker. The class offers its sympathy to them all.