James Campbell Stover

James Campbell Stover, 72, of Warren, NJ and formerly of Peapack, NJ, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 23 at Morristown Medical Center with his family by his side.

Jim was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 25, 1951, the son of John Spoor Stover and Nelson (Nollie) Stover (nee Campbell). He grew up in Princeton, NJ and graduated from the Choate School, CT in 1969. He attended Lake Forest College, IL and received a bachelor's degree in history from New York University in 1973.

Upon graduating from NYU, Jim went to work as a lumber broker for Plunkett Webster, Inc., New Rochelle, NY. In 1984, he joined Discount Corporation of NY which was the start of a long career in fixed income brokerage. During his career he also worked for Euro Brokers, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. On September 11, 2001, Jim was at work on the 84th floor of Tower Two of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. Unlike many of his colleagues and others in the Towers that day, he successfully made his way out of Tower Two before it collapsed.

Jim was an active member of the Essex Hunt Club, Peapack, NJ and the Ausable Club, Keene Valley, NY and served on the Boards of both organizations. He spent many years as an ice hockey coach for the youth teams at the Essex Hunt Club and took great pride in starting the Essex Hunt Club's first Mitey Mite program. He was a champion for the growth of girls hockey and facilitated the formalization of the girls program in the Club League. His efforts were later recognized with an annual Club League championship cup named in his honor.

Jim had a deep appreciation for the outdoors. He was an avid fly fisherman who tied many of his own flies and spent time on rivers in the Northeast, Canada and Alaska catching trout and salmon. He also enjoyed surf casting on the shores of Nantucket Sound and was known for his prized, handcrafted wooden "rabbit" lures. His other interests included upland bird hunting, hiking and cross country and downhill skiing.

Later in life Jim suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury that severely compromised his mobility. He displayed remarkable grit and determination in a miraculous recovery to the astonishment of his medical and therapy teams and the delight of his family and friends. Despite the challenges of his circumstances and limitations due to his injury, he rarely if ever complained.

Jim was a devoted son, brother, father and grandfather. His good nature, quick humor, easy going demeanor and approachability made him a favorite companion of family and friends of all ages and walks of life. He will be sorely missed and remembered lovingly by all who knew him.

Jim is survived by his son, James Campbell Stover, Jr. and his wife Eleanor Berlin Stover of Bernardsville, NJ and his daughter, Anne Stover Reece and her husband Evan Reece of Topsfield, MA, five grandchildren, Charlotte and Brooke Stover and Marley, Barrett and Porter Reece, his former wife, Susan Handy Stover, two sisters, Lucy Stover Schor, of Pennington, NJ and Amy Stover Garofalo and her husband, Lucio of Bologna, Italy, thirteen nieces and nephews and five grandnieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 1. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Kessler Foundation, (120 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 100, East Hanover, NJ 07936 www.kesslerfoundation.org) are greatly appreciated.