NATHAN WHITAKER (Nate) JAMES ’38

NATHAN WHITAKER (Nate) JAMES died on May 19, 2004, at his home in Brighton Gardens in Mountainside, N.J. He was director of public relations for the central railroad of New Jersey during his 35-year career with the company, and served with a variety of industry-related association.

He was a graduate of Plainfield (N.J.) High School and the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., before matriculating at Wesleyan.

Born and raised in Plainfield, he married Dorothy Jane Laffey of Short Hills in 1941, and lived in Westfield for 46 years before moving to Mountainside seven years ago. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2001, a month before Dorothy succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. James family records indicate that Nate was an 11th generation descendant of Roger Williams and was also descended from Abraham Whitaker, another 17th century immigrant who settled in Rehoboth, Mass.

Surviving are his son, John W. James and daughter-in-law, Loretta, of Madison, Conn., and four beloved grandchildren, John W. Jr., Laurissa, Corinne, and Randy.

Nate enjoyed generally good health right through his last days with us. He was an active volunteer for numerous charitable and community service organizations, including especially the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside and the Central Railroad of New Jersey Veterans Association. He had an untiring zest for life and was totally devoted to his family and the exploits of his grandchildren. When his grandson Randy came east last fall with his newly acquired pilot’s license, it was Nate in the cockpit of the Cessna 172 taking off from the airfield in Chester, Conn. He will be missed by many. Memorial contributions may be made to the Children’s Specialized Hospital 150 Providence Road, Mountainside, NJ 07092-2590.