James A. Busselle

James Arthur Busselle, PhD, died peacefully at his home in Mokena, IL, on March 7, 2018. Son of Arthur E. Busselle and Josephine H. McNamee, Jim was born on April 19, 1938, in Cleveland, OH. He attended Cathedral high school in Indianapolis and was awarded one of eleven Indianapolis Metropolitan Merit Scholarships in 1956. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and History at Marquette University in 1960. He held a Master of Science in American History from the University of Wisconsin, and successfully defended his PhD dissertation at the University of Virginia in May, 1975. He was a Phi Eta Sigma Honorary National Scholastic Freshman, was awarded a National Merit Scholarship, and was the recipient of a two-year McIntire Fellowship at the University of Virginia.
From 1963-68, Jim worked for the Security Mutual Casualty Company in Chicago, IL, with responsibilities in underwriting, claims and the statistical/actuarial departments. Concurrently, he served in the United States Army – Illinois National Guard and received an Honorable Discharge from his rank as Staff Sgt. E-6 in December, 1968.
Jim held faculty positions at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Urbana, and Plymouth State College in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Among his publications are “The United States & the Sino-Japanese War, 1894-1895”, and “Essays in History, 1969-70”.
From 1976 until his retirement in 2000, he served as Executive Director of the State of New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission in Concord, NH. During his tenure he also served on the Executive Committee of SHEEO, the National Organization of State Higher Education Executive Officers. Throughout his life, Jim was an avid reader, had a strong interest in politics, athletics and basketball, and he lettered in tennis in both high school and college.

Jim is preceded in death by his sister Mary Anne Tolbert, his niece Karen Tolbert-Land, and his nephew Thomas Tolbert (Sean Alexander). He leaves behind nieces and nephews and numerous great/grand nieces and nephews: Brian E. Tolbert (Cheryl) - Houston, TX (Christi, Susie), Ronald H. Tolbert Jr. - Manchester, TN. William L. Tolbert (Susan) - Indianapolis (William, Sarah, Christian, Daniel). Linda M. Tolbert-Sawrey - Indianapolis, IN (Jennifer). Robert S. Tolbert - Frankfort, IL (Megan, Corey, Paul; Mateo, Casey). Mary E. Tolbert-Smith (Andrew) - Fountain Town, IN (Olivia). Kathleen S. Tolbert – Indianapolis, IN, and his former spouse Patricia Sabal-Busselle, Las Vegas, NV.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 501 Private interment in St. John's Cemetery, Mokena, IL.