James Richards Smith

James Richards Smith (Jim), beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully holding the hand of his loving wife of 64 years at his home in Philadelphia on Saturday, August 16, 2025. He was 87 years old.

Born October 8, 1937, in Cornwall, New York, to Harriet and Morris Smith, Jim spent his early childhood in Syracuse, New York, and along the Magothy River in Maryland before moving west to Riverdale, North Dakota, and Pierre, South Dakota, where he spent his formative years.

Jim attended Yale University, where he first met his wife, Margaret Morrell. They married in 1961 and would go on to have three children. He graduated from Yale University in 1959 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. His professional life reflected his restless curiosity and commitment to innovation. He began his career at the Hamilton Standard Division of United Aircraft, where he contributed to the design of early space suits and the production of aircraft propellers.

He later worked at The Hartford Insurance Group, where he was a pioneer in the then- burgeoning field of Operations Research. He was named as the first Director of Operations Research and helped build one of the earliest corporate computer systems in the country. These rudimentary computers filled entire rooms, and though their size would see gradual decreases over the coming years, the space they took in his career only grew, as management systems continued to be a key facet of his work. Jim went on to establish a distinguished career at AFIA, and later Cigna and then Chubb, where he played a leading role in the creation and oversight of international information management systems. His work took him around the world, where he enjoyed documenting his travels in the form of slides, which he then presented to his family back home. He retired as Vice President for Global Financial Systems in 2005, marking the end of a prestigious, groundbreaking, and fulfilling career.

Outside of work, Jim lived life with a deep love for family, creativity, and the outdoors. A true handyman, he could fix anything—cars, roofs, septic systems, kitchen appliances—nothing was beyond his reach. He rarely called on professionals, preferring to solve the problem himself; frequently with the help of one of his three assistants- his loving children. He was also a gifted singer with a rich voice and enjoyed working with stained glass and photography. He delighted in cooking, family feasts at all the holidays, and he never missed a lively cocktail hour.

An avid outdoorsman, Jim passed on his love of hiking, camping, skiing, and sailing to his children. He was a certified globetrotter, taking full advantage of business trips to foreign offices to explore new cultures and landscapes, and frequently planning elaborate family vacations, many of which were spent along the coast of Maine. In later years, he treasured evenings on the porch of his home in Philadelphia’s Awbury Arboretum, enjoying the company of his wife, family, and an ever-rotating procession of cats and dogs - his closest companion of whom was undeniably his labrador mix, Two.

Jim was deeply committed to his faith and never wavered in his involvement in the local church community wherever he made a home. He was active for many years with Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford, Connecticut, where he served as the treasurer and a trustee. In the 1960s & 1970s, he was proud to support and promote the cause of Kalos Society, the state’s first LGBTQ+ organization within the church. In recent years he was an active member Old First Reformed UCC in Philadelphia, where he also served as a trustee and was unflinchingly devoted to the church’s mission of service.

Jim is survived by his wife Margaret, three children, Jonathan Smith (Sheryl Winston), Megan McLeod (Angus McLeod), and David Smith (Magali Tranie); and four grandchildren, Aidan McLeod, Abigail Smith, Morgana McLeod, and Ethan Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harriet and Morris Smith, and his beloved older sister Betsey Brown.

Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to causes dear to his heart:

• Old First United Church of Christ https://oldfirstucc.breezechms.com/give/online 
• Old First House, in support of transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness, in partnership with Depaul USA (link, select “Philadelphia”) https://depaulusa.networkforgood.com/projects/159107-main-giving-page
• Awbury Arboretum https://awbury.org/give/

 Jim’s legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the family he cherished, and the love of adventure, service, and curiosity he instilled in all who knew him.