James R. Scaritt ’57

An expert in African politics, Jim died June 23, 2023, in Boulder, Colo. He was the son of Arthur D. Scarritt 1918, and he came to Princeton from Pembroke Country Day School in Kansas City, Mo. He majored in the Woodrow Wilson School. Jim was assistant swimming team manager and a member of Court Club and the United World Federalists. He also worked at WPRB. Senior year he roomed with Jack Dibb, Barrie Jones, Bob McCrea, Charlie Shoup, Jim Walker, and Craig Smith ’58.

Jim served in Army ROTC, followed by active duty as a lieutenant in the Field Artillery. In 1963, he earned a Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University. Then followed a long career in academia, capped by his appointment as chairman of the department of politics at the University of Colorado. He also spent time in nine countries in Africa, both as a researcher and adviser to independence and human-rights movements.

One of our classmates, Jim Starr, introduced Jim to Prudence Johnson in November 1957, and they married in 1959 and had four children. 

Jim is survived by his wife of 64 years, Prudence; children Susan, Ann, Katherine, and Arthur; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.