H. James Laverty, ex-'Bulletin' editor

SOMETIMES reporters arriving for their morning shifts at the old Philadelphia

Evening Bulletin

seemed a bit grumpy and bleary-eyed.

That was because Jim Laverty, the perfectionist on the city desk, had awakened them out of a sound sleep as early as 5 a.m. to ask them questions about the stories they had written.

"Jim figured he was at work, why shouldn't they be?" said Peggy Higgins, a copy desk editor at the Bulletin who worked with Jim for years. "He was a very careful editor who checked everything and made sure stories that got into the paper were done right."

H. James Laverty, a newspaperman for nearly 50 years who worked on the Bulletin as a reporter and editor for nearly 20 of those years, a Navy veteran of the Korean War and a civilian sailor who liked to ply the Barnegat Bay and the waters around Florida in his sailboats and motor launch, a world traveler and devoted family man, died of melanoma Jan. 23. He was 76 and lived in Toms River, N.J. He had previously lived in Lansdowne, Delaware County.

After the Bulletin closed in 1982, Jim worked in communications for the Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant in Lacey, N.J.

He held the titles successively of supervisor of editorial services, senior public affairs representative and manager of communications. He retired in 1994. After that, he worked part-time for Pine Belt Nissan in Toms River.

Jim was born in Philadelphia and grew up in the 7th Street and Allegheny Avenue neighborhood. He graduated from Northeast High School for Boys and attended Bucknell University. He received a certificate from the Charles Morris Price School of Journalism and Advertising in Philadelphia in 1949.

His first association with the Bulletin came when he was hired to report sports scores while still a student at Northeast High.

Although it would be 15 years before he would return to the Bulletin after high school, he once said, "I had gotten my first taste of reporting and loved it."

After his Navy stint, he worked for the Harrisburg Patriot-News from 1957 to 1963, and started at the Bulletin in 1963.

He covered the courts and the district attorney's office, gaining a reputation for having great sources and for the thoroughness of his reports.

When he was moved to the city desk, he was assigned as the "early man," the first editor on duty whose job was to read the stories in hand to make sure they were ready for publication.

"He was a great guy," said Higgins, who worked for the Bulletin for 18 years. "I enjoyed working with him. He was very careful to check all information to make sure it was right. His way was the right way, therefore the best way to do anything."

Peter Binzen, a 31-year Bulletin employee who was city editor from 1976 to 1980, said Laverty was "totally reliable" as the early man. "He was somebody you could trust in that job. He was a good Bulletin guy."

Joseph R. Daughen, a retired Daily News writer who worked at the Bulletin from 1963 to 1982, said Laverty was "always cheerful. He had that kind of round, cherubic face, always with a big grin. He was fun to be around."

Don Harrison, onetime Bulletin city editor, assistant managing editor, and arts and leisure editor, said Laverty was a "good, solid dependable reporter. If you assigned him to a story, you were secure in the knowledge that it would be done right."

Bob Brothers, former Bulletin picture editor, said, "Jim Laverty helped us keep our sanity under the pressure of seven deadlines a day. He was a tireless worker who always had a light-hearted view of the crisis du jour."

"He was a man of high moral character," said his daughter, Sharon Gallagher. "He had strong beliefs in right and wrong, and he held himself and his family to high standards."

Jim owned two sailboats and a motor launch and spent many happy summer days on the waters around New Jersey, and in Florida in the winter.

He and his wife of 48 years, the former Jean Farling, traveled widely.

They toured Europe, including on riverboat cruises, went as far as Tahiti in the South Pacific, and cruised the Caribbean.

"He was very sociable and friendly," his daughter said. "He would talk to anyone. He was good-hearted and a strong family supporter."

Jim was a former member of the Toms River Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by his son, Mark.

Services: Were held Jan. 27. Burial was in Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River.

Donations may be made to VanDyke Hospice, 99 Highway 87, Toms River, NJ 08755. *