Jim Kingsbury

Obituary for James M. Kingsbury

I. New Haven Register Obituary

James Merwin Kingsbury was born on May 25, 1934 in Patterson, NJ and died on December 13, 2021 in New Haven, CT after a hard-fought battle with colon and liver cancer. He was preceded in death by his wife Peggy Kingsbury to whom he was married for 50 years and is survived by his 3 children Anne (and Eric) Andrews of Durham, NC, Heather (and Mel) Hill of Centennial, CO, James (and Leslie) Kingsbury of San Francisco, CA and 5 grandchildren.

Jim loved his family, singing and Yale University. He was gregarious, optimistic, and liable to break into song at any minute. He was a proud member of the Yale Wiffenpoofs, the Yale Glee Club and the Yale Alumni Chorus, with which he traveled on many singing trips around the world. Jim grew up in Scarsdale, NY, later lived in Brooklyn Heights, Chatham, and Greenport, NY and spent his last decade in New Haven, CT. He spent almost 60 years vacationing at Point O’ Woods, NY, first as a teenager, and later when he built a home for his family that was enjoyed for many decades. Jim was a graduate of Yale University and NYU School of Business. After a short time in the US Navy, he had a 60+ career as an investment advisor, maintaining his credentials and a few key clients up until his death. He was a voracious reader of newspapers, solver of crosswords puzzles, and enjoyed keeping up with his family and friends via phone calls, Facebook, and mailing newspaper clippings. He was generous with his time and held many volunteer leadership roles including with the Long Island College Hospital, Columbia Greene Memorial Hospital, the Point O’ Woods Association and was active in Yale Alumni affairs.

Plans for a Celebration of Life service will be made in 2022. Donations in his name can be made to The Yale Alumni Chorus or Columbia Greene Memorial Hospital. He was the epitome of a “gentleman songster” and will be missed.

December 15, 2021

II. Notice by I. Garcia, Yale Alumni Chorus

YAC is saddened to share that Jim Kingsbury ’56 passed away on December 13, 2021.

Jim joined YAC on many tours, and last joined us in Milton in 2019. He was a very active YAC member, formerly serving on the Board of Directors, and volunteering for several committees.

As fellow YAC member and longtime friend, Roberto Martinez put [it] “He will be missed and remembered as a true scholar and gentlemen (sic), just to start.”

Jim’s family is planning a celebration of service in 2022. We will share those details once they are known.