James Hatcher

James Hatcher, age 60 of Pompton Lakes, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

James was one of four children born to Eleanor and Harold Hatcher. They spent their childhood in Philadelphia before moving to Toms River, NJ during James’ Junior year of high school. He then attended Toms River High School East where he became lifelong friends with Joe Murdico through their mutual love for the performing arts. James’ passion for theater led to his involvement in the Bucks County Playhouse Summer Theater as well as other community theater and high school theater during the school year. After graduation, James began working in the banking industry with his mother.  That was the beginning of a lifelong career in banking. But there was still his love of theater which developed into a unique opportunity when his best friend Joe invited him to travel to California and join the Spirit of Los Angeles Cruise ship as a Cruise Director.

The Spirit of Los Angeles Cruise ship introduced James to a fellow performer by the name of Laurrinda Robinson. James was blown away by Laurrinda and immediately told Joe that he needed to know more about her. Fortunately for James, Joe was already friends with Laurrinda so the two were introduced and the three of them became great friends over the next five years. One day James mustered the courage to ask Laurrinda to go on a date with him. They had been such close friends already that Laurrinda didn’t realize it was a date until James picked her up alone! It took her a bit of time to see James in a romantic way after being such close friends for so long, but the two fell in love. They were married in 1994 and moved together to New York in 1998. The couple shared almost 30 years of a loving and happy marriage together.

While living in New York, James commuted to Wayne, NJ for his job at Valley Bank as a Training Specialist. He had an uncanny ability to make his training enjoyable by all. Whether through his wittiness, his humor, or his acting abilities from years of theater, his coworkers truly enjoyed his training and absorbed the knowledge he provided with ease. He worked in banking for over 35 years.

In October of 2006, Laurrinda and James were blessed with their son Cooper Hatcher. About three years later they learned of Cooper’s special needs and decided that they could give him the best opportunities to succeed in life by moving out to the suburbs over in Pompton Lakes, NJ. James loved Cooper beyond measure, and he was an incredible dad.

James’s life changed forever when his unbearable back pain, caused by an undetected tumor, led to a break in his back vertebrae which paralyzed him from the waist down. That terrible outcome would be enough to lead anyone to give up but not James. He was a fighter who continued to battle cancer and multiple related health issues with a fervor that impressed his doctors, family, and friends.

James will be remembered for his strength of will and his witty, sharp humor that took even a clever mind time to unravel. He had an uncanny ability to weave knowledge into his humor that made everyone around him smarter for it. He was an amazing husband, father, and friend that will be dearly missed by all.

James is survived by his wife Laurrinda Hatcher; his son Cooper Hatcher; his brothers: Mark Wade and his wife Gail Wade, and Edward Hatcher; his nephews: Mark Hatcher, Weston Wade, Lukus Wade, and Edward McGill; his nieces: Laura Friedland and Gianna Wade; his brother-in-law Cary Robinson and his wife Melissa Robinson; his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Clifford Robinson and Lorie Hsu; his best friend Joe Murdico; long time family friends Chris, Kim, Erik, Abby, Kate, and Lily Sanders; and close friend Pat Pontus Martin.

James is predeceased by his parents: Eleanor and Harold Hatcher; and his sister Barbara Eagan.