James S. Lester ’45 *48

Jim Lester died May 17, 2011.

Jim was a “dyed-in-the-wool” alumnus of Williams and received a bachelor’s degree from that institution in 1947. According to Princeton records, he enrolled here in 1943 but then left in March 1944. He spent two years in the Navy as an engineering officer aboard the USS Sierra in the Pacific. Upon his return to Princeton, he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University in 1947 and a master’s degree in engineering in 1948. He always has been included in the class rolls of 1945. No one is sure how that happened, but we have always been happy to have him as a member of the Class of 1945!

Jim joined Sun Oil Co. in Philadelphia and married Anne Davidson in 1948. He then worked for CPC International, where he remained for his entire business career.

Jim and Anne had five daughters but were divorced in the 1970s, after which Jim married Jane Kirkpatrick. They moved eventually to Maine for several years and then finally to Knoxville, Tenn., where Jim remained until his death. In addition to Jane, Jim is survived by his daughters, three stepsons, and one stepdaughter. The class expresses its sympathy to the family.