James G. Lawler, age 83, of Princeton N.J. and Punta Gorda, FL died peacefully in his sleep on August 12, 2021. Jim leaves behind his beloved wife and soulmate of 63 years, Barbara.
Jim graduated from Riverdale Country School and was a member of the Class of 1959 at Princeton University.
Jim returned to Princeton Township after living in North Carolina, Georgia and Ohio. He loved attending Princeton football games, participating in the P-Rade and wearing orange and black whenever possible, including his tipsy tiger 59 Covid face mask made by Barbara. He was an active member of the Princeton Club of New York, former chairperson of the Squash Committee and instrumental in building their current squash courts. He was involved in fundraising in Florida for the Princeton Class of 1959.
Jim worked in the restaurant industry for Restaurant Associates before founding his consulting rm, JGL Management Services Company, which provided restaurant consulting services to arts organizations. Jim was very proud to see his company eventually taken over by his daughter Tracy Lawler Leahy, and then to see his grandson, Connor Leahy, join the company which is now known as JGL Food Service Consultants.
Jim was a renaissance man. He was an avid bridge player, model plane enthusiast, golfer, sailor, skier, traveler and patron of the arts. He could be counted on to have always read the latest, most interesting new books and to freely share his copies.
Jim and Barbara split their time between Princeton and Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda, with an occasional side trip to Brigantine NJ. When in NJ, Jim and Barbara loved going to the theatre, symphony and dance in NY or Princeton, trying new restaurants, and spending time with children and grandchildren. In Florida, Jim andBarbaraenjoyedbiking, kayaking, dragon boat racing and sailing. Wherever Jim was, he could be counted on for a game of golf, bridge or a spirited debate about the political climate.
Jim and Barbara’s children, Kathy Lawler (George Grochala) of Basing Ridge NJ, Tracy Leahy (Jim Leahy) of Princeton NJ, and Chris Lawler (Kirsten Lawler) of Falls Church, VA will miss his wise counsel, dry sense of humor, astounding mathematical prowess and inability to x any mechanical object. His grandchildren, Quint, Carter, Connor, Devon, Madelaine, Charlotte and Penelope are grateful for the many years they got to hang out with their pa/grandpa and wish they had had more.
A private memorial service is planned. In lieu of owers, the family asks that friends donate to Save the Children or their favorite charity.