Robert James Chanter

Obituary of Robert James Chanter

Robert James Chanter, known as James, passed away in University Hospital, Newark, on Friday 23 January 2026, surrounded and held by his family.

James was a huge, effervescent, undeniable personality, with a sharp mind and a sharp wit. His charisma, sense of humour, discerning taste, and wish to protect and care for his family defined a life that was full of colour and love. James was an Englishman through-and-through, but developed a deep love for his adopted country, finding career, family, and a lifestyle he greatly enjoyed, both in New York City, and latterly in New Jersey. James was a larger-than-life presence who was deeply loved in all his moods, facets, and complexity by his friends and family.

James is survived by many members of a loving family: his beloved wife Jacqueline Puzo, his parents Michelle and Stewart Chanter, his sister Rachel, his mother-in-law Migdalia (Micki) Viole, his father-in-law Nicholas Puzo and his wife Hilke, his uncle and aunt Simon and Maria Rogerson, his cousins Charlie and Dominic, his siblings-in-law Julianne Cantore and her husband Michael, Elizabeth Kubanik, Maria Glasson and her husband Kevin, Rebecca Puzo, Nicholas Puzo and his wife Lily, as well as his treasured nephews and nieces Ilaria, Chiara, AJ, James, Lily, Charlie, Amelia, and Quentin, who adored him. He is pre-deceased by his grandparents, Alan and Freda Rogerson, people of great integrity who were pivotal figures in James' life.

James was born on 2 January 1987, in Preston, UK. He was a beautiful, energetic, curious child with a strong personality and intellect from his early years. James and his sister Rachel had an idyllic childhood, spending large portions in the English Lake District and Wales where, with their parents Michelle and Stewart, they walked in the hills, ate fish and chips, boated and sailed, and spent innumerable happy hours with friends and grandparents. James was educated at Stonyhurst College, Hurst Green, Lancashire, from the ages of 8 to 18, a place of great history that shaped his character and values. The friendships he made there were steadfast and endured throughout his life. The school motto, 'Quant je puis' ('All that I can') was embodied in the way James lived his life, striving always for the best for himself and for his loved ones. Whether in his work, in choosing a car or a new TV, in planning an event or a trip, in buying the perfect gift, or in cooking a meal, James was a perfectionist, with a skill for curating, choosing, handpicking, and tailoring. He wanted everything to be just-so, and prided himself on using these skills to elevate the lives of those around him. An aficionado of all things technological, James loved cars, boats, and new 'toys', always keen to show people how a tech solution could solve a problem or make their life easier.

James' academic acuity led him to excel in school, and he went on to study for a BA at Newcastle University, and an MA at Oxford University. He showed a keen interest in politics in his school days, and a conversation about current affairs with James was always guaranteed to be well-informed but non-judgmental, a line he trod with his own even-handed grace. An extended trip to Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East after his time at Newcastle solidified a love of travel that he would cultivate for the rest of his life. James pursued a career in advertising in London, where his discernment, ambition, and affability took him far. In 2016 he transferred his career to New York, finding great affinity with the energy and boldness of the city. He was outstanding in his field; an award-winning advertising executive and thought-leader in his industry, working with many high-profile clients and generating millions of dollars of revenue for his company. His most notable campaign was for the Lexus Hoverboard, a polished and celebrated piece of advertising that reflected James' creativity and flair for his work.

James married Jacqueline Puzo in 2023. Together they had adventures in Europe, China, Iceland, Mexico, the Caribbean, and visited almost every corner of the US, particularly enjoying road trips in James' beloved Tesla. Jacqueline's family embraced James with unreserved warmth and love, and James' life was enriched by trips taken, meals cooked, and holidays shared with his American family. A kid at heart, James was loved wildly by his nephews and nieces, who instinctively responded to his warmth, gentleness, and the ability he never lost to see the world through the eyes of a child, in all its wonder and hilarity.

James and Jacqueline moved first to Jersey City, and later to Maplewood, NJ, where he made his home for the last year of his life. Diversifying his career to reflect his various areas of expertise, James started several new ventures, setting up a travel business in 2023 which drew on his ability to craft beautiful, thoughtfully tailored experiences. He qualified for his real estate license, also in 2023, and in 2024 began developing an AI startup, for which he had great plans and excitement. Through his mother-in-law Micki, James became involved with the Kiwanis Club of Jersey City, volunteering his time to improve the lives of children, and was welcomed as Vice President in 2025.

James will live on in the lives of his friends and family, who will enact every day his vigor, his sense of fun, his generosity, and his love of life. Always one for an entrance or an exit, James was parted from us unexpectedly, leaving behind a space filled with inestimable sadness, but also with love.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation for James on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Vincent Martyr Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison. For those who are unable to attend the mass in person, please visit www.svmnj.org/livestream-mass

James' family have kindly requested that charitable contributions can be made to the Jersey City Kiwanis, C/O Mark Rowan, 3565 Kennedy Blvd.Jersey City, NJ 07307

A service will also be held for James in the UK at 11am on the 5th February at St Mary's Church, Newchurch in Pendle:

5 Cross Ln, Newchurch-in-Pendle, Burnley BB12 9JR, United Kingdom You are invited to join us afterwards at The Sparrowhawk: 152 Wheatley Lane Road, Fence, Burnley BB12 9QG, United Kingdom.