James M. Green ’75

The Class lost a true original when Jim Green died on June 9, 2024, from complications following surgery. Jim grew up in Glendale, Ohio, and was first in his class at Princeton High School in nearby Cincinnati. At the University, he majored in physics and mathematics, joined Tower Club and the fencing team, and delighted friends and roommates with his wry sense of humor. He had an uncanny ability to strut around campus in the pose of R. Crumb’s “Keep on Truckin’” cartoon; he drew his own caricature in that position for his Nassau Herald entry.

Academically brilliant, as well, Jim went on to earn his Ph.D. in high energy physics from the University of Chicago in 1981. He worked at Cornell and Rutgers universities and did research at CERN (Switzerland), KEK (Japan), and Fermi Lab (Illinois). He was a tenured professor at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. His nieces and nephew remember his joking that he was a “pencil-necked geek” yet belying that description with surprising feats of strength. They recall his rare talent for breaking down difficult problems into smaller, understandable parts.

In 1994 Jim’s career and life plans were derailed, however, when he suffered a near-fatal stroke that left him severely physically challenged. 

In 1997 he returned to Cincinnati to live at The Beechwood Home, a long-term care facility where being confined to a wheelchair proved no impediment to his living a full life and bringing joy to those around him. Residents and staff valued his intelligence and wry sense of humor, including wonderfully terrible jokes; he could recite long passages from Alice in Wonderland and all of “Alice’s Restaurant”; and he was a notable Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit player. He volunteered as a tutor in physics and math at Xavier University in Cincinnati and for GED preparation classes at his church, and he enjoyed travel and outings with family members. With the help of his sister, Macie Green Hall VanRensselaer ’73, he came to our 25th Reunion.

Jim’s father, Joseph N. Green ’50, died in 2017. Among Jim’s survivors are his mother, Judith B. Green; Macie and her husband, Jay; his brother Charlie and his wife, Constance Lighthall; his brother Matt and his wife, Fiona; three nieces, a nephew, and numerous fond friends and relatives.

Jim faced his physical challenges with courage, dignity, and grace. He was an example to all of us, and we mourn his loss.