James Alan Pletcher

James Alan Pletcher was born December 5th, 1970 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Geraldine and Robert K. Pletcher. In his early years, Jim developed a deep passion for team sports graduating from Canevin High School in 1989 with a varsity letter in wrestling. Jim went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in the Greek and Latin. During his college years, Jim was a member of the varsity wrestling team and the Philomathean Literary Society. Jim went on to study at St. Andrews University in Scotland, earning his PhD in Classical Studies in 1998. Upon his return to the United States, Jim worked at the Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts until he moved to Brooklyn, New York in 2002 to join the teaching faculty at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. Following the tradition of his parents, Bob and Gerri, Jim was passionate about his vocation as an educator. He taught continuously at Brooklyn College, receiving a Certificate of Continuous Employment in 2011, and having just completed the spring semester after successfully navigating the pivot to remote learning. Jim was renowned for his love of meaningful conversation, search for truth, and abhorrence of injustice. No matter where he traveled in the world, Jim always spread his love and extensive knowledge of his hometown Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers. He will be dearly missed by his mother, Geraldine and his brother, Jon (Brooke). Jim will also be missed by his many relatives, friends, and colleagues. Jim's family will be eternally grateful for the way he touched the lives of his nephews, Noah, Joshua, and Andrew. He instilled in them the value of understanding our past so that we could improve our condition by always questioning the status quo. Services will be private by family only. Loved one's can join in on ZOOM for a Celebration of Life, Friday at 2:00p.m. Meeting ID 9590432809 password is funeral. Arrangements entrusted to WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, Scott Twp (412-563-2800). www.slaterfuneral.com