James (Jim) Albert Harper, son of Harold and Elizabeth Roop Harper, died peacefully Dec. 31, 2020 at the age of 96 due to complications from COVID-19. He was a life-long resident of New York City who summered on Long Island and Locust. He attended the Buckley School, Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard College Class of 1946 and Harvard Business School Class of 1948.
He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years Mai (Maidie) Duane Harper who died in 2017. He is survived by his seven children, Sarah H. Dorer (Robert), Rebecca H. Cennamo, Dr. Elizabeth Harper, Mary H. Levenstein (Fred), Felicity H. Letsou (Peter), James A. Harper Jr. (Patty) and John Duane Harper (Jill); 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his sister Mary Harper Hutchins and family.
He served in the U.S. Navy both during and after World War II, retiring in 1966 with the rank of commander. He was employed for 33 years by the private banking firm of Brown Brothers Harriman and Company, retiring in 1981 and subsequently employed as senior vice president of the Daiwa Bank Trust Co., a subsidiary of the Daiwa Bank Ltd. of Osaka, Japan, until retiring in 1991. Aside from family, his interests included amateur theatricals, sailing and art collecting. He was a member of the Sea Bright Beach Club in Sea Bright and the Harvard Club, the Church Club and the Church of the Resurrection (Episcopal) all of New York City. When in New Jersey, he attended All Saints Memorial Church in Navesink and Trinity Episcopal Church in Red Bank.
Due to COVID-19, a memorial service will be held at a later date at Trinity Episcopal Church in Red Bank and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 65 W. Front Street, Red Bank, NJ, 07701.
The article originally appeared in the January 14 – 20, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
