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James M. Trier Obituary

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James M. Trier

White Plains, NY

February 23, 1943 - October 8, 2021

James M. Trier Obituary

James Matthew Trier died suddenly at the age of 78 on October 8, 2021, in Morristown, NJ. Jim and his beloved wife of fifty years, Trudy, were long-time residents of White Plains, NY, and recently moved to Basking Ridge, NJ, to be near their son, James Joseph, daughter-in-law, Jacqueline, and granddaughter, Juliette.
Jim was born on February 23, 1943, in The Bronx, NY, to James John Trier and Kathryn Forman Trier. In 1953, the family moved to Elmsford, NY, where Jim lived with his late parents and his five siblings until his marriage to Trudy Craven Trier on July 24, 1971. He is survived by his wife, his son, three brothers: Richard (Roberta), Donald (Barbara), Robert, and his sister Kathleen (Annie Silvia). A fourth brother, Arthur (Julia), predeceased him in November 2011.
Jim attended Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, graduating in 1960. He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY. He worked full-time during the day and attended college at night completing his degree in 1967. Jim’s career in public accounting began with Lybrand, Ross Bros. and Montgomery, known then as one of the elite “Big Eight” firms, but was interrupted by being drafted.
Jim served in the United States Army from April 1969 to April 1971 achieving the rank of Specialist 5 at Fort Gordon, GA. Although being drafted was not his plan, he was proud to say that he had served honorably … even though he did play “Born Free” on his car’s tape deck as he drove out of Fort Gordon for the last time.
Upon rejoining the private sector, Jim transitioned to the retail industry and became Controller of two prestigious stores, Bonwit Teller, then Paul Stuart. In 1997, Jim joined the proxy solicitation firm, MacKenzie Partners, where he was Chief Financial Officer. He recently retired from full-time employment but was pleased to be asked to remain on call as a consultant.
Jim was intellectually curious. He discovered The Great Courses several years ago and collected an eclectic grouping of DVDs to learn more about things he found interesting including biographies, history, philosophy and sciences. He reserved his Saturday or Sunday mornings to watch two or three lectures in a course. Then he would share facets of what he learned with others.
An avid car fan, Jim loved to read about cars, to look at them, and to drive them. He had many amusing anecdotes of cars his family had owned through the years. His 1966 Rambler was the first car he bought and the one he took with him to Fort Gordon. In recent years, he enjoyed folding his 6’ 3” frame into his MINI Cooper to scoot around town, and there was nothing he enjoyed more than going for a ride with the top down in his Mustang convertible, something he did the day before he died.
Jim was a talented photographer with a knack for composition that made the ordinary into art. While working in New York City, he carried a pocket camera so that he could snap photos of things he saw, such as, a banana peel on the sidewalk, a pink garbage truck, a store window, a Christmas tree or a planter overflowing with flowers. Many of his photos of cars, landscapes, flower details, and other subjects that caught his artistic eye were framed and on display in his home.
Jim combined his love of cars and photography by taking pictures of antique and unusual cars at car shows. Every June, he especially looked forward to the Greenwich, CT, Concours d’Elegance where he would roam about snapping pix and speaking with the car owners. Jim had a vast knowledge of cars, both vintage and contemporary, and was always willing to share that knowledge.
Jim loved anything nautical as evidenced by the various pieces of marine art on the walls of his home office. His favorite pastime was building model ships, and he was especially proud of his model of the America’s Cup racer, The Atlantic, built for his father who crewed on the ship for two weeks at age fifteen. The most recent project on Jim’s workbench was a ship called The Smuggler. He was doing preparatory work on the model and researching the ship to be certain of historical accuracy, something on which he prided himself.
Personally, Jim was a warm, loving, generous and totally sincere person. He loved to chat and meet new friends, whether in a store or walking around the neighborhood in the mornings meeting the local dogs and their owners. Getting someone to laugh, whether with a corny joke or just a witty observation, was always his goal. He brought joy wherever he went. Those who knew Jim well felt enriched by his loyal friendship. Those who knew him casually enjoyed every encounter with him. Those who just met him wanted to know him better. A light has gone out in his family’s and friends’ lives and will never be replaced.
Over the last eighteen years, Jim had a number of health struggles including multiple heart surgeries and cancer. That is why the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Jim’s name to Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital.

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