Obituary of James L. Hollinger, Esq.

James L. Hollinger Esq. 

James L. Hollinger, 87, of East Norriton, PA passed away peacefully on Friday, November 3, 2023.  

He was born in Littlestown, PA, on August 17, 1936, the son of the late Paul and Mabel (Biddinger) Hollinger. James had lived in East Norriton since 1961 with his late wife, The Rev. Kay M. Hollinger of 64 years. 

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Dickinson College in 1958 and received a Juris Doctor from Dickinson Law School. He was admitted to the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1961 and worked as an estate attorney for Smith, Aker, Grossman & Hollinger, LLP in Norristown, PA. As a resident of Norristown, he was active with the Lutheran church, volunteer organizations, and county leadership positions including the President of the Norristown YMCA, Co-chairman for the United Fund for Special Gifts, President of Norristown Rotary and Chairman of the Norristown Rotary Student Loan Fund, Vice Chairman for East Norriton Twp. Municipal Authority, President of the Church Council at Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Foundation and Peoples-Thrift Building and Loan Association. He received the Elizabeth Fry Ashmead Schaeffer Award in 2000 for his work with the Lutheran Germantown Home and Silver Springs -   Martin Luther School.

James was elected Vice President of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) in 1990. He was the author of the “Annual Survey of Developments in Decedent Estates and Trust Law'' for the Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly, co-author of the Pennsylvania Fiduciary Guide, and co-editor of the Pennsylvania Fiduciary Review. He lectured and wrote many programs for PBI. A participant on multiple legal panels, James was a WHYY Radio Times expert guest on estate planning and living wills with Marty Moss-Coane. He served on the Montgomery County Estate Planning Council, chaired the American College of Trust & Estate Council’s Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section, and was a proud member of the American, Pennsylvania, and Montgomery Bar Associations. James was listed in the The Best Lawyers in America.

He continued his community service and civic engagement throughout his life and, along with his wife, remained committed to helping their community and those in need. He enjoyed playing basketball and cards with friends and was passionate about sharing special moments and spending time with family. 

Survivors include brother Ken Hollinger (& Diane) of Folsom, LA, sister Carole Hollinger Oles (& Ken) of Spartanburg, SC, son Mark A. (& Louise) Hollinger of West Norriton, Pa, son John D. (& Karen) Hollinger of McLean, Va, son Paul A. (& Jennifer A. Vare) Hollinger of Conshohocken, Pa, daughter Elizabeth "Beth" (& Grete Miller) Hollinger of East Norriton, Pa, also survived by his grandchildren Brittany Rae Fox, F. Brandon Fox, Grant H. Hollinger, and Miller J. Hollinger, and his Great Grandchildren Matthew B. Bates, Blake B. Bates, Briar M. Bates and Marley B. Bates.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Brenda, and wife, The Rev. Kay M. Hollinger (May 30, 1937 - December 10, 2022).

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 11:00 AM from St. John Lutheran Church, 1802 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA.

Friends may call on Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at church. The interment will be private. Memorial Contributions may be made in his memory to: Elmwood Park Zoo and St. John Lutheran Church - address listed above or a charity of your choosing.

Arrangements by Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 19 East Germantown Pike, East Norriton, PA, (610) 277-1600.  www.msrfh.com