Ilion High School - Class of 1923

The Washington Post - February 9, 1989

James Bunting, Retired YMCA Director, Dies

Article 6

James Bunting, Retired YMCA Director, Dies

James F. Bunting, 82, a retired executive director of the National Board and National Council of the Young Men's Christian Association of the United States, died of a stroke Feb. 7 at the Herman Wilson Health Center in Gaithersburg. He lived in Gaithersburg. Mr. Bunting served as executive director of the Metropolitan Washington YMCA from 1960 to 1964. He began his career with the YMCA in Rochester, N.Y., in 1927. He held YMCA positions in New Haven, Conn., and Newark, N.J., before moving to the Washington area in 1960. He moved to New York City in 1964 and became executive director of the National Council. In that post he provided direction for 1,725 local associations and branches and more than 5 million members. He retired in 1971 and moved back to the Washington area. Mr. Bunting was born in Ilion, N.Y. A graduate of Syracuse University, he received a master's degree in education from Yale University. He received a distinguished alumnus award from Syracuse University and the Cross of Mount Athos from the Greek Orthodox Church. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Emma Lee Bunting of Gaithersburg; two daughters, Elizabeth B. Barnett of Wilton, N.H., and Margaret B. Comings of Gaithersburg; a brother, Robert W. Bunting of Holden, Mass., and four grandchildren.