James W. Swinehart

James W. Swinehart of New Rochelle, New York, passed away on November 17, 2025, He was 94 years old. Born in Liberty, MO he was one of 2 children. James graduated from William Jewel College and received his Doctorate at the University of Michigan where he met his wife Sandy. The couple would marry and move to Pelham where they raised their sons Robert and Brian.

After college graduation, he served in Korea with the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps, then obtained an M.A. and taught sociology at Washington University in St. Louis. He later earned a Ph.D. in social psychology at the University of Michigan, where he held faculty appointments in the Survey Research Center, Research Center for Group Dynamics, Highway Safety Research Institute, and School of Public Health (where he founded and headed a doctoral program). After some years he left Michigan to become Director of Research for a national TV series at Children’s Television Workshop in New York. Three years later he established Public Communication Resources, Inc., as an independent consulting firm.

Named an Honorary Life Member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and a Life Member of the American Public Health Association, he has also belonged to the American Psychological Association, American Sociological Association, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues.

He has served on the boards of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, local chapters of of AAPOR and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation. At the age of 90 he published “It’s Here Somewhere and other Poems” a collection of his writings over the years, fulfilling a lifelong dream. However, he was most proud of his four exceptional grandchildren.

James will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, relative and wonderful friend. He will be dearly missed; however, his family finds comfort in the many treasured memories he leaves behind.

James is survived by his sons Robert and Brian & his wife Tricia. He will be missed by his 4 grandchildren Charlotte, Colin, Trent, and Gavin. He is predeceased by his wife Sandy, and his sister Joan.

A memorial for James will take place at the Pelham Funeral Home located at 64 Lincoln Ave., Pelham NY on Saturday, November 29th from 2:00pm to 4:30pm For more information or to leave a condolence please visit www.pelhamfuneral.com