Deceased June 19, 2020
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In Memory
Jim Brayer died suddenly on June 19, 2020, at his home in Fairport, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; children Margaret, Deborah, Thomas and Douglas; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Jim prepared for Amherst at Monroe High School in Syracuse, N.Y.
He arrived at Amherst with a great head start in knowing what life at Amherst would be like. His father was a graduate of the class of 1923 and his brother, Shel, was in the class of 1952. Jim, following Shel, joined DU and served a term as chapter president. He was an economics major and played in the marching band. Jim liked the moment the band formed a semi-perfect “A” at the Pratt Field 50-yard line. He also served on the Prom Committee.
In 1957, after Army service, he married Barbara Beale and joined a printing firm. In 1978, Jim, the sales VP, left the company and struck out on his own as a manufacturer’s representative, selling advertising specialties and decorated sportswear to the corporate market. Jim’s choice was great good luck for our class. He was responsible for a number of our reunion gifts, including the purple and white umbrellas, tan windbreakers, white golf shirts with logo and purple caps.
Jim always came to the Amherst-Williams games, even the ones in Williamstown. Rob Sowersby ’55 remembers Jim guiding several classmates and wives to the warmer, drier side of Pratt Field during Homecoming 2004. He also attended many Amherst athletic events in upstate New York.
Jim was deeply involved in his community. He was a founding member of the Church of the Transfiguration in Pittsford and served on the finance committee, as a lector and as an adult acolyte. He was a volunteer driver and spent 14 years as an umpire for the Pittsford Little League.
Norm Douglass ’55 and Henry Keller ’55