The League of American Theatres and Producers announced that Broadway's marquees will be dimmed at 8 PM Nov. 4 in tribute to "this extraordinary man."

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, gentleman and man of the theatre, James Binger," said League president Jed Bernstein.

Mr. Binger's wife, Virginia McKnight Binger, predeceased him Dec. 22, 2002. At age 22, she married James H. Binger, a St. Paul native she had dated since high school. They had three children: James (Mac), Cynthia, and Judith. The couple lived in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Ardmore, PA, before returning to the Twin Cities, settling in Wayzata.

Mr. Binger held top executive positions at Honeywell, Inc., from 1961 to 1978.

Besides philanthropy, theatre was an important interest in Virginia Binger's life, according to The McKnight Foundation. Broadway's ANTA Theatre was renamed the Virginia in her honor. The 52nd Street venue is one of five theatres in the Jujamcyn Theaters empire.

Jujamcyn derives its name from the names of the Bingers' children, Ju[dith], Jam[es], and Cyn[thia]. The Bingers launched the enterprise in the 1970s, when Virginia Binger's father, William L. McKnight gave them two theatres he had acquired two decades earlier.