James Renfrew Dodge

1947 - 2025

James Renfrew Dodge of Worthington, MA, passed away peacefully on April 19th, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer from Agent Orange at the age of 78. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, neighbor, and friend, Jim will always be remembered for his generous nature, good humor, stories and love of his family.

Jim was born February 11, 1947, in Pittsfield, MA, as the son of Harold Oscar Dodge and Mildred Derosia Dodge. He attended public schools in Pittsfield. He graduated in 1964 from high school at Daycroft and from the University of Massachusetts with a B.A. in Political Science.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served with the U.S. Navy Seabees as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Navy and was awarded a Unit Citation with Combat V. After the war Jim sponsored a family that he had met in Vietnam of "boat people " who were stranded in Hong Kong harbor, so they could immigrate to America. He remained in contact with them throughout his life.

After his military service, he was employed as superintendent and vice-president of Dodge Construction Company. He was named a partner in the Newborne Company, a design and marketing company in Worthington (1982 to 1992). His product designs for unique juvenile furniture were instrumental in the company's success. In 1993, he became the National Sales Manager at Larien Products of Northampton. He continued designing and marketing juvenile furniture products with L.A. Baby of California and received several national awards for his designs.

Jim was a Worthington Volunteer Fire Department member for twenty years. He also served on several town boards, including the Conservation Commission, Worthington Historical Society and as a town delegate on the Westfield River Association and instrumental when the Westfield River was the first Massachusetts River to receive the National Wild and Scenic designation. He was a Corporator for the Trustees of Reservations and a volunteer for the"bridge club" at Notchview and at the Bryant Homestead. He was also a volunteer on the building and grounds committee for the Berkshire Historical Society at Arrowhead.

Jim was married to Michele Dobbins Dodge for nearly 50 years. While at their Moonstruck Meadow home in Worthington, he spent much of his time walking his beloved golden retrievers, watching the beavers, deer and birds, working on his tractor, splitting wood and clearing his ski trail. He also enjoyed traveling, playing volleyball, cross-country skiing, canoeing, and riding his BMW motorcycle. Especially important was the time spent with the cross-country ski community that began at Hickory Hill.

Jim was the family historian. His family was 5 generations in Pittsfield and had traced his family back to at least 9 Mayflower descendants. One of them is William Brewster who also has related Brewsters buried in Worthington. At family gatherings, Jim came with copies for all of his latest findings and was ready to share the stories.

Jim is survived by his wife Michele and their children, Holly Folsom and her husband Steven Folsom of Ithaca, NY, and Amber Freeman and her husband Kris Freeman of Campton, NH; grandchildren Ren Folsom and Roslyn Folsom of Ithaca, NY; and Axl Freeman of Campton, NH, and several cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends all over the country. He was predeceased by his siblings- brother Hascal Dodge, and sister Leslie Martindale.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 28th, at 1 p.m. at the Worthington Congregational Church, 159 Huntington Road, Worthington, MA. A reception will follow at the home of Jim and Michele Dodge, 311 River Road, Worthington, MA. In lieu of flowers, you can make donations in Jim's name to The Worthington Historical Society, The Berkshire County Historical Society or the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Association.