James G. Renton M’89

James G. Renton, Milton, VT/Lancaster, MA, died November 27, 2020, the College learned recently.

At the time of his death, he had just sold his house in Milton, VT, moving to Lancaster, MA to be closer to his son and granddaughter.

James was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His family immigrated to Queens, NY, when he was just 3 years old just after World War II. He started his career in the U.S. Navy in the late 1960s, stationed in Jacksonville, FL, Puerto Rico, and Italy. He served as a member of an anti-submarine aircrew. The Navy sent him to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn where he graduated early with an electrical engineering degree in 1972. He later moved on to work in control system engineering at Proctor and Gamble, Ford Motor Company, and IBM.

James was a very hands-on and avid tinkerer and “gear head.” He loved to spend time in the garage restoring cars and even built his own luxurious four-bedroom, four-garage house in Milton, Vermont in 1983. His work ethic, influence, and example inspired his own son to start his own 20-year ongoing career as a computer and system engineer after graduating from RPI in 1999.

James is survived by his wife, Linda (Khan) Renton, a son, three sisters and extended family.