John W. James ’64

John died Feb. 18, 2021, at his home in Old Greenwich, Conn., after living with Parkinson’s disease. 

He came to Princeton from Westfield (N.J.) Senior High School, majored in economics, and joined Elm Club. He roomed with the Gauss House Gang (Charlie Heinz, Don Hussong, Bob Huxley, Charlie Kendrick, and Carl Peterson). Among other activities, he was a freshman football manager and a member of the Bridge Club and WPRB. 

He earned an MBA from New York University and served in the Army, where he studied Mandarin Chinese. He went on to a distinguished career in corporate finance and banking, holding senior positions at Bankers Trust, Chrysler Capital, and DaimlerChrysler, including overseas in Stuttgart and Copenhagen.

John devoted himself to his family and community with remarkable warmth and generosity. He served as board president of the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library in Madison, Conn., and Christian Community Action in New Haven, Conn., and as president of the New Canaan (Conn.) Community Foundation. 

He loved bringing his wife of 52 years, Loretta, and their four kids (including John Jr. ’93) to Reunions. He and Loretta also enjoyed reconnecting with other ’64ers on class trips to Kenya, the Galapagos, and elsewhere. He played tennis and taught bridge to students using a players’ guide he wrote, “Bridge-It.”

In addition to Loretta, John is survived by their four children and six grandchildren.