James Thayer, 72

Served as Lawrence village historian

Posted

James L. Thayer, known to family and friends as Jim, was born on Oct. 30, 1944 and grew up on Smith Lane in Hewlett Neck. A former Lawrence village historian, Thayer, died on Feb. 20 in Stuart, Fla. He was 72.

“He had a hunger for knowledge,” his son, Tom Thayer said, adding that his father was always reading and loved history. Tom said his father’s family and friends were very important to him, as well as his work.

Thayer, the youngest of four brothers, attended Lawrence Country Day School through eighth grade and then went to Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1962. Four years later, he earned a degree from Harvard cum laude, where he studied history. He later received his master’s in business administration from New York University in 1972.

The Five Towns native was on active duty in the Navy from 1966 to ‘69 and then in the reserves until after Desert Storm, Tom said, and he retired as a commander. He lived in Brooklyn with his wife Harriette, known as “Hap” to her friends, who was working at Packer Collegiate Institute after the two married in August 1971. They moved to Lawrence three years later.

He worked in equity research with Brown Brothers Harriman and other firms throughout his professional career. He was a member of the Rockaway Hunting Club, Lawrence Beach Club and Cedarhurst Yacht Club. He and Hap traveled often together. They also raised Springer Spaniel show dogs.

Thayer’s friend Arthur Murray, a longtime Lawrence resident said James was “a very knowledgeable guy.” Murray said he grew up with Jim’s older brother Edward as Jim was 14 years younger than him. He added that he used to spend time with Jim playing tennis and going to the beach.

Lawrence Association President Sharon Douglas, who leads an organization that functions as the village’s civic group, said that the association, “mourns the passing of our village historian and longtime citizen of the Village of Lawrence, James L. Thayer. Mr. Thayer was a prominent and treasured resident of the Village for more than 70 years. His valuable personal knowledge of the history of the Village of Lawrence added a dimension and perspective that has enriched the lives of all those that are living in Lawrence today. His knowledge, warmth and generosity will be sorely missed.”

In addition to his son, Tom, Thayer is survived by his wife, Harriette, his brother Thomas, his daughter-in-law Desiree (Tom’s wife), and grandchildren Bronson and Leila.