James Gibbons

1954 - 2021

James A. Gibbons, 66

CLINTON - James A. Gibbons, 66, died Sunday, January 3, 2021, after a quiet, but courageous six-month battle with cancer.

He leaves a sister, Mary Pat Gibbons, of Clinton, with whom he lived; a brother, John J. Gibbons, Jr., and his wife, Deborah, of Clinton; many relatives and friends.

Jim was born and raised in Clinton, son of the late John J. and Alice M. (Droogan) Gibbons. A graduate of Clinton High School, Class of 1972, he went on to earn his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University School of Law, Boston.

For more than twenty years until the time of his death, Jim worked as a Realtor at Realty Vision, Clinton, and for 20 consecutive years, was recognized with the MLS Top Producer Award. Previously, he worked as an attorney in private practice; served as Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools for the City of Boston; as a Legislative Assistant in Washington, D.C., for the late U.S. Representative Joseph D. Early of Worcester; and was a part-time instructor at Atlantic Union College, Lancaster.

In addition, he served the Town of Clinton as the former Town Solicitor, and was a former member of the Clinton Council on Aging, the Clinton Olde Home Days Committee, the Clinton 150th Parade Committee, and the Clinton Rotary Club. He was honored for his work and commitment to others, being named "Person of the Year" by the Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce, and received a Shillelagh Award from the Clinton Leprechaun Society.

Outside of his work and civic commitments, Jim enjoyed traveling with his family, and enjoyed a particularly memorable trip to Ireland with his mother and sister many years ago. He loved vacationing on Cape Cod, in Maine, and at Lake George, NY, annual trips to the Saratoga Race Track in Saratoga Springs, NY. He was an avid reader, who enjoyed spending time in the company of family and friends, was a great fan of the Boston Sports Teams, and was also active in politics, volunteering with many political campaigns.

Jim's funeral will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021 with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church, 80 Union St., Clinton. Please go directly to the church. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Lancaster. There are no calling hours. In accordance with current guidelines, the use of face masks, and the practice of social distancing will be required at the church and cemetery. For those who wish, the Gibbons family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Jimmy Fund, c/o Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168, UMass-Clinton Hospital or UMass-Memorial Hospital, c/o UMass Memorial Office of Philanthropy, 365 Plantation Street, Biotech One, Worcester, MA 01605 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Attn: Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 3810. Arrangements are under the care and direction of McNally & Watson Funeral Home, 304 Church St., Clinton.

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