James Smart

James Smart, of Mount Airy, noted journalist, Philadelphia historian and author, died April 15, 2022 of a brain abscess. Jim was a journalist for 25 years at the Philadelphia Evening and Sunday Bulletin. Born to Elsie Smart Stutz (nee Hartley) and Nathaniel Smart in 1930, he grew up in Kensington and graduated from Northeast High School in 1948. Jim then went to work for the Bulletin, and for many years wrote a column called “In Our Town.” Jim was a graduate of the Charles Morris Price School of Advertising and Journalism, where he later taught. Jim married Joy E. Lovett in 1949. In 1961, they moved to Langhorne, PA, where they raised their two children. Joy died in 1973. He later met Barbara Torode, a graphic designer and artist, and they were married for 41 years before Barbara’s death in 2019. After leaving the Bulletin, Jim worked in advertising, business publishing, and in public relations for Mellon Bank. He never fully retired, doing freelance writing and writing a column for the Roxborough Review for 31 years, until fall 2021. He was also the author of three books. Jim was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. His presence, stories and gentle humor will be greatly missed by his family. Survivors are his children Stephen J. Smart (Alene) and Leslie Zavodnick (Steven); grandchildren Elizabeth Sherstad (Andrew), Jillian Zavodnick (Nicholas Gutowski), and Matthew Smart (Eilise Blessington); and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Ruth Wiren (the late Raymond) and nieces, nephews, and grand- and great-grand nieces and nephews. Interment will be private. Jim asked that you remember him over a nice dinner sometime. If you are so moved, donations to Mighty Writers, 1501 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 (mightywriters.org) would be appreciated. The family is grateful for the empathetic care and companionship provided to Jim in recent years by the caregivers from MCP Homecare Solutions, and for the compassionate care provided in his final days by the palliative care team from the Einstein Montgomery Hospital and its Hospice.