James Nemeth of Greenport died Nov. 2, 2026. He was 79 years old.
Born Jan. 8, 1947, in Manhattan, he was the son of filmmaker parents Theodore Nemeth and Mary Ellen Bute. He attended Choate and Riverdale Country Day and then studied at the London School for Film Technique, where he pursued his interest in creating documentaries. After graduating, he returned to New York and attended New York University. His first marriage to Johanna Neuberger brought him twins, Ted and Kristine. The family moved to Hampton Bays, where he changed careers and became a chemistry teacher, first in East Hampton and then at Smithtown East. He later became a nuclear engineer for LILCO during the construction of the Shoreham Nuclear Plant. After the plant was shut down, he moved to Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he worked as a trainer in radiation protection until retiring in 2015. His second marriage to Claudia Sawicki brought his son, Andy. He later moved to Greenport after his marriage to Liz Glasgow, where they raised their dogs and cats.
His family said his greatest joy was being a dad and that he was always up for an adventure, including camping trips and visits to the city in his Volkswagen camping bus. Many in Greenport remembered him walking his dog, Woody, and telling people Woody was a mixed breed and he was as well. His family said he enjoyed skydiving, mountain climbing and riding motorcycles. They also thanked Claudia Sawicki for helping care for him in his final weeks during his battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
He is survived by his wife, Liz Glasgow; his children, Ted, Kristine and Andy; and his daughter-in-law, Melissa Nemeth.
The family has chosen to remember his life privately at this time. Memorial donations may be made to the North Fork Animal Welfare League. Arrangements were entrusted to DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold.
