James Edward Torpey

Sept. 30, 1926 - Aug. 20, 2013

James Edward Torpey was born on Sept. 30, 1926, in Lowell, Mass.

Early in life, Jim felt the positive influence of the Catholic Church, serving as an altar boy at St. Andrew's, where he had several excellent mentors who imparted many valuable life lessons. When he was just 17, with World War II in full swing, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving from 1943 to 1946 as a Seabee in New Guinea.

Upon his honorable discharge, Jim enrolled at Springfield College, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in health and physical education. In 1950, he married the love of his life, Dorothy Rita Olivieri. Jim and Dot soon found themselves on the move, crisscrossing the continent several times.

While earning his doctorate from the University of Oregon, Jim fell in love with the Beaver State. He taught at the University of Minnesota for five years, but longed to return to the Willamette Valley. In 1971, now with a family of six children, Jim accepted a professorship at Oregon State University and moved to Corvallis, where he would spend the rest of a very active life.

Jim was a loving father and devoted husband; family meant everything to him, and there was never anything too small he wouldn't do for his loved ones. Jim was a voracious reader, wrote beautiful poetry, and also enjoyed fishing, gardening and nature. He had a great sense of humor, always a quick wit, right until his final day on earth.

Jim is survived by his wife, Dorothy; six children, Mary, James, Jennifer, Bridget, John and Eileen; two grandchildren, Stephen and Tyler; and two great-grandchildren, Jackson and Preston.

As Jim was a devout Catholic, his funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Corvallis. He will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery.