Obituary of James R Thorpe

James Robinson Thorpe

July 27, 1965 – August 7, 2026

James Robinson Thorpe, of Bernardsville, New Jersey, passed away on August 7, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 61 years old.

James, Jim or Jimmy as his friends knew him, was raised in New Vernon, New Jersey, and graduated from Peck School, Morristown Beard School and Lehigh University. He went on to build a distinguished career on Wall Street, spending twenty years as a top currency and macro trader, with long and successful tenures at Chemical Bank and Morgan Stanley. He left Wall Street behind to devote himself fully to raising a family in Bernardsville, and to exploring the many talents, interests, and passions that made him so unique.

Above all else, Jim was a devoted father. His greatest pride and joy were his sons, Samuel and George, and nothing made him happier than driving them to hockey games, whether friendly games at Essex Hunt or their many camps and tournaments both near and far, in every kind of weather, on every kind of schedule. He loved the sport himself and played it his whole life, but sharing it with his boys, watching them succeed, and being part of their team in every sense, was the role he treasured most.

Jim was his boys’ biggest supporter and best friend. Everything they did was great to him, even when it wasn’t. He always had time for them and was constantly doing projects with them – making maple syrup, restoring an old jeep, building a snowman, and the list goes on. He was a hands-on father who loved rolling up his sleeves and delighting in one project, hobby, or adventure after the next. He was the best father the boys could have ever asked for.

Jim also cherished his time with friends. He was an avid fly fisherman and loved nothing more than a guys' trip, to his beloved Martha’s Vineyard or more exotic locales. For Jim, it was never about what you caught, but about the camaraderie and the bonds he built. He had a rare gift for bringing people together: friends from all corners of his life, many of whom became close friends with one another simply because he brought them into his orbit. He was larger than life, and the circles of friendship he built are one of his truest legacies.

Jim was also a gifted craftsman and a man deeply connected to the natural world. He started his own furniture company called Pendleton Designs where he built beautiful wood furniture that were works of art. Jim was always taking on a new project, from building a sailboat with his father, to a barn with friends, to restoring the next automobile. He grew fruit trees, tended bees, and cultivated an impressive vegetable garden, taking great pride in sharing his honey and his harvest with family and friends. Jim was happiest when he was creating something with his own hands, and he had an extraordinary ability to reinvent himself and find new ways to build, create, and learn.

Jim leaves behind a legacy far bigger than any single talent or achievement — an appetite for the next challenge that never dimmed, and a knack for pulling people into his world and never letting go. He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife, Cheryl, and his sons, Samuel and George. He is also survived by his father, Harold Thorpe of New Vernon, NJ; his sisters, Tamsen Thorpe of New Vernon, NJ, and Barbara (Thorpe) Emery and her husband John, of Dedham, MA; and his extended family and many, many friends. He is predeceased by his loving mother, Louise.

Funeral Service for his family and close friends will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon. Burial will be private for the immediate family only.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s memory to The Peck School, Office of Advancement, 247 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960. Donations to Peck will be directed towards financial aid and scholarships. Donations can also be made in Jim’s memory to the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, New Jersey.