James Ross Harvey ’56

Jim Harvey, a past recipient of the 1956 Distinguished Classmate Award, died June 6, 1996. Jim was born in L.A. Aug. 20, 1934, and came to Princeton from the Thacher School. At Old Nassau he majored in basic engineering, joined Cottage Club, and was business manager of WPRB.

Following graduation Jim received his MBA from Berkeley. He held several jobs before joining Transamerica Corp. in San Francisco in Jan. 1965. After serving in a number of executive positions, Jim became president of Transamerica in 1979. He was CEO from 1981-91 and chairman of the board from 1983-95.

To his outstanding business career, Jim added involvement with numerous civic and charitable organizations which reflected his continuing interest in his community and the environment, such as the chamber of commerce, several art museums of San Francisco, and the Nature Conservancy. Jim refused to let a continent's distance interfere with his friendships with Princeton classmates like Jack Doub and Jack Thompson. He was an unpretentious man with a great sense of humor and a zest for life.

To Jim's beloved wife, Charlene, and his children, Kristina, Kjersten, Brita, and Fiona, the class extends its sympathy.

The Class of 1956