James V. Hart Jr.

Born in Passaic, New Jersey, on July 26, 1925, Jim was the son of James Vincent Hart and Gladys (Hardifer) Hart.

He grew up in the town of Cedar Grove on Little Falls Road and graduated from Bloomfield High School. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy during World War II in the South Pacific Theater. Following the war, he worked on Eagle Island on Upper Saranac Lake during the summer and later graduated from Fairleigh Dickenson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and began a 36-year career with IBM.

Jim married Jeanne Marie Kelly from Hoboken, New Jersey, on Feb. 12, 1949. They raised six children in a Cedar Grove home on Fairview Avenue built by Jim himself, from 1951 to 1990. Jim also built a lake house in Saranac Shores on Upper Saranac Lake by 1960, and the family continues to enjoy being together at “Hart Camp.” In 1990, Jim and his wife Jeanne purchased the apartment building at 9 River St. in Saranac Lake, which they completely renovated. They later moved to Mackenzie Pond Road.

Jim was a member and past chief of the Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department, serving from 1954 to 1990. He also was a charter member of the Cedar Grove VFW Post 6255 and the Cedar Grove Zoning Board of Adjustment. An avid New York Giants fan, he was a season ticket holder for many years.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife and best friend of 69 years, Jeanne Hart of Saranac Lake; six children: Lois (Bernard) Barrett of Upper Saranac Lake, James (Phyllis) Hart III of Barre, Vermont, Kathleen (David) Baker of Bakersfield, Vermont, Eileen (Michael) Richer of Tupper Lake, Kenneth (Lauren) Hart of Barre, Vermont, and Tara (Stephen) Horvath of Columbia, Maryland; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one sister, Joan Valerian of Kinnelon, New Jersey; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, father-in-law John Ward Kelly, mother-in-law Anne Doran Kelly, one sister, Janette Cunningham, and one granddaughter, Tessa Hart Horvath.

Calling hours will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake with the Rev. Patrick Ratigan officiating. Burial will take place at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Saranac Lake in May.

Friends wishing to remember James V. Hart Jr. may make memorial contributions to the St. Bernard’s School in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.