James C. Van Zandt

Mr. Van Zandt was born November 12, 1932, to the late Anne Hitch Phillips and Albert Williams Van Zandt. Born and raised in Chester, PA, he was a 1951 graduate of Chester High School where as a senior, he was captain of the basketball team and named on the All Delaware County Basketball squad.

Jim was an Eagle Scout and a counselor at Delmont Boy Scout Camp. He graduated from Temple University where he attended on a basketball scholarship.

In 1956 he was drafted into the U. S. Army serving at Fourth Army Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, and then in Chinon and Saumur, France, where he was player/coach of the joint post basketball team which won the Southern France Division Title.

After returning from the service, Jim was employed by ESSO Standard Oil of New Jersey (now Exxon) advancing to the position of Sales Supervisor in the Pittsburgh District that included the panhandle of West Virginia.

In 1966 he was hired by Philadelphia National Bank as the initial Sales Manager of PNB BankAmericard, the first major bank credit card in southeastern Pennsylvania. He then joined the newly formed Cash Management Department which grew quickly gaining many corporate clients and was selected to develop a Cash Management system for the Pennsylvania Lottery when first introduced. He next moved as Director of Commercial Marketing at PNB, then into corporate lending specializing in construction industries and contractors.

In 1980 he was hired by First Pennsylvania Bank as a vice president in their newly formed Construction Lending Division. When the bank was acquired by CoreStates, he moved to Fidelity Bank as a Division Head, Vice President, leaving after they were acquired by First Fidelity, N. J. (All have been merged into Wells Fargo Bank).

Before retiring, Jim worked five years at what is now Risnychok & Associates, Inc.
An avid golfer, he was a 45-year Life Member of the Springhaven Club and a Life Member of the Philadelphia Seniors Golf Association.

Jim married his high school sweetheart, Jane Collins, in 1955. His only sibling, Dr. W. Robert Van Zandt, died in 2012. He is survived by his loving wife, Jane, her brother, John C. Collins (Marianne) and nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service 11 AM Tuesday , November 4, 2025 at the White-Luttrell Funeral Home, 3551 Concord Road, Aston where relatives and friends may call after 10 AM. Burial will follow in Chester Rural Cemetery.

Memorial gifts to The Willistown U.M. Church, 6051 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073 or to a charity of your choice would be appreicated.