James M. Proctor III ’59

    A direct descendant of a Mayflower voyager and Samuel Chase, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Jim died March 27, 2023, at Trinity Grove, a retirement community in Wilmington, N.C. 

Born in Washington, D.C., he attended Mercersburg Academy, then matriculated at Princeton on an NROTC scholarship. He was on the varsity swim team for three years, elected as captain in his senior year. A member of Cap and Gown, he graduated with honors with a political science degree, then served on active duty from 1959 to 1962, choosing the Marine Corps option and attaining the rank of captain. In 1960, he married Judith Mattson. They had three children: James, Thomas, and Susan. Judith died in 1984. A second marriage ended in divorce.

Jim graduated from Georgetown Law Center in 1966 and practiced law in Washington, D.C. He became associate general counsel of the Small Business Administration prior to starting a long career with General Investment Funds, the investment arm of General Tire Co. He became president of GIF Properties, a position he held until his retirement. 

Jim was a well-rounded sportsman whose main enthusiasm was mountain climbing, conquering, among other peaks, Whitney, Pikes Peak, Mauna Kea, and Kilimanjaro (at age 50). 

Jim is survived by two sons, James and Thomas (daughter Susan died in 2016); and two sisters, Nancy Proctor Bride and Elizabeth Proctor Jennings.