Jim Lebenthal ’49

Jim died Nov. 14, 2014, after 86 frantically busy years. You could not be near Jim without feeling his energy and enthusiasm, and somehow, no matter what the situation, you felt better.

Born June 22, 1928, in New York City (and he would have had it no other way), Jim prepared at Phillips Andover Academy. At Princeton, he majored in politics, brought the Princeton Photo Service back to postwar life, and enlivened Campus Club.

Jim went out into the world and worked for Time Inc., Disney, NBC, and Ogilvey & Mather before joining the family bond business. Drab and boring it once may have been, but Jim made sure that everyone with a television knew that municipal bonds are very fun and that they are good for you.

He served as our class agent, secretary, and president. Jim is survived by his wife, Betty Wright Landreth; children Claudia, Alexandra ’86, and James B. ’90; and grandchildren Ben Diamond ’16, Charlotte Diamond ’18, Eleanor Diamond, Avalon Lebenthal, and James Lebenthal. His first wife, Jackie Beymer, predeceased him. Our profound sympathy goes  to all of his loved ones. There has been no other like him.