James G. Bennett Jr.     BATH -- James G. Bennett Jr. of Bath, previously of Minneapolis, Minn., and Darien, Conn., died Friday, Feb. 16, 2007.      He was born in Minnesota on Aug. 24, 1927, a son of James G. Bennett and Lillian Louis Taylor Bennett. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with a degree in English Literature.      He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947. He had a long and fulfilling career as a journalist, professional writer, and public relations executive. He began his career with the Minneapolis Star Tribune where he was a staff writer and reporter. He later became Director of public relations for the Pillsbury Company, Vice President of Carl Byoir and Associates of New York and worked as a freelance writer and consultant.      He was an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and served on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Chapter of that organization. He had a strong sense of civic duty and contributed to his community in many leadership roles; he was President of The Minneapolis Urban League, President of Minneapolis Friends of the Theatre, and Vice Chairman of The Minnesota Orchestral Assoc. He was elected and served as Councilman and trustee of The Village of Orono, Minn., and while serving initiated and directed a number of conservation projects to preserve the natural beauty and environmental integrity of Lake Minnetonka.      He was an avid sailor and long-standing member of the Minnetonka Yacht Club. He was an accomplished jazz pianist. His musicianship provided enormous enjoyment to his family and friends. He made many amateur and professional appearances and was well known as a musician in the Minneapolis area. Above all he was devoted to his wife and was a dearly beloved father of his six children. He is predeceased by his wife, Barbara H. Bennett in 2006. Surviving him are four sons, James G. Bennett III of Bath, William F. Bennett of Somerville, Mass., Taylor H. Bennett of Berkeley, Calf., and Robert T. Bennett of Grand Rapids, Mich.; two daughters, Barbara T. Bennett of Westport, Conn., and Nancy M. Luther of Darien, Conn.; 10 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews; two brothers, Russell M. Bennett of Excelsior, Minn., Thomas T. Bennett of New Hope, Minn.; and three sisters: Mary B. Long of McLean, Virginia, Lillian B. Markoe of Wayzata, Minn., and Virginia Peters of Incline Village, Nev.      A celebration of life ceremony with be held in Minneapolis, Minn. in the spring. Please contact Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High Street, Bath for future notification.     Memorial contributions     may be made to:    The Bath Middle School Jazz Band     6 Old Brunswick Road     Bath, Maine 04530