James T. Hastings, 84

Softball umpire, avid cyclist, active Mason

Published August 15, 2019

PEABODY — James (Jim) Thayer Hastings, 84, of Peabody, formerly a longtime resident of Wilmington, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2019 from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Jim was born in Somerville on August 15, 1934. He was the dear son of the late James L. and Helen Hastings. Jim was raised and educated in Somerville and Nashua, N.H., and was a graduate of Nashua High School. Jim went on to further his education at the University of New Hampshire where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Husbandry.

Jim attended OCS in Newport, R.I. and in December of 1956 he was commissioned with rank of Ensign to active duty at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he served for three years and was later promoted to Lieutenant and became Aide to Admiral Charles Allen Buchanan at the Newport Naval Base in Newport, Rhode Island. Jim served the country for six years during the Vietnam era and was released from active duty in February of 1962.

On July 13, 1956, Jim married his sweetheart, Virginia “Ginny” Eames; the couple lived in Pearl Harbor and Barber’s Point, Hawaii, and Newport, R.I., for several years before moving to Wilmington in 1962 where they raised four wonderful children. He was very proud of his family.

After leaving the service, Jim joined Buttricks Ice Cream in Arlington, where he managed the ice cream and sandwich shops in the Boston/Arlington district. Jim became a salesman for Sexton Foods, located in Canton, and he finished his business career as a materials buyer at Charles River Laboratories in Wilmington. Upon retirement, Jim enjoyed many years of part-time work at Miller Landscaping.

Outside of his professional career, Jim had many other interests. He was a member of the Greater Lowell Softball Umpire Association for 38 years, from 1975 to 2012. In addition to time spent on the field as an umpire, Jim donated much of his time working tournaments and running the food concessions on behalf of the association, and he served as treasurer for many years.

Jim was also an avid cyclist and regularly participated in the N.H. Seacoast Bike Trek, an annual charitable event for the American Lung Association. Jim also led many family bike trips, including trips to Nova Scotia, the White Mountains, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard.

Jim led his life by example and always made himself available to help others. For 53 years he was a member of the Masonic Friendship Lodge in Wilmington where he was always involved in helping others throughout the community in their time of need. He also was very active in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as well as the American Lung Association New Hampshire Chapter, and raised countless dollars throughout the years at various fundraisers.

Jim enjoyed spending time with his family. They loved to travel, to share holidays and special occasions, and to just “hang out” in his back yard “sports complex” that included a swimming pool, shuffle board, horseshoes, volleyball, croquet, bocce, badminton, basketball, and even a 9-hole mini-golf course that he personally designed and built. Jim especially looked forward to watching his children and grandchildren grow into the wonderful young adults that they have become.

Jim will be remembered as a kind, energetic, and generous man who always went out of his way to help others in need. He had a wonderful sense of humor and will be forever missed by all who knew and loved him.

Jim was the beloved husband of Virginia (Eames) Hastings and the devoted father of Lynne Maxwell and her husband Bob of North Attleboro, Gary Hastings and his wife Heidi of North Reading, Leigh Bull and her husband Keith of Wilmington, and the late Laurie O’Grady. He was the loving “Bampy” of Kim Proulx and her husband Josh, Courtney Burke and her husband Bill, Ryan Maxwell and his wife Renee, Nathan Maxwell and his fiancé Courtney Abate, Kyle Hastings, Jackson Hastings, and Allie Hastings, and great-granddaughter Lexi Proulx. He was also the devoted father-in-law of Kevin O’Grady and his wife Lori and their daughter Shannon of Wilmington. Jim was the cherished son of the late James L. and Helen (Thayer) Hastings and the dear brother of Betty Delisle and Barbara Carey, both of New Hampshire. Jim is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will gather for a memorial service at the Brooksby Village Chapel, 300 Brooksby Village Drive, Peabody, on Friday, August 23 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Mass. Chapter, 70 Walnut St., Suite 301, Wellesley, MA 02481 or to the American Lung Association Chapter of your choice.