James Michael Gregorich

.James Michael Gregorich, 91, of Peterborough, NH, passed away peacefully at the Scott-Farrar retirement community in Peterborough, NH, on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

He was born on December 2, 1933, in Joliet, Illinois, son of the late Joseph and Dorothy (Shultz) Gregorich.

After graduating from Joliet Central High School in 1952, he enlisted in the United States Navy serving 4 years of active duty and 4 years in reserves. After the Navy, James continued his electronics education at Joliet Junior College and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1957-1960, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering. James later earned a master’s degree from and became an adjunct professor at University of Lowell in Lowell Massachusetts, currently known as UMass Lowell.

James made his mark as a power supply engineer in a career spanning nearly 60 years. He started at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he worked on the radio that orbited the earth on NASA’s Friendship 7 spacecraft. He moved with his family to Massachusetts where he worked at Computer Control Company, founded by a Raytheon engineer and later purchased by Honeywell. He started working at Digital Equipment Corporation in 1974 and worked there for 30 years. After “retirement” he continued to work at Thermal Dynamics Corporation and JMK Filters. He obtained a patent in nearly every company he worked at.

It was at Digital Equipment Corporation where he made his many life-long friends. He was highly regarded and referred to as “The Chief”. He will be missed by his colleagues who describe him as friendly, knowledgeable, supportive, humble, and quick-witted. James enjoyed participating in many activities with this group of power supply engineers, most of which involved drinking beer, including canoeing, deep-sea fishing, racing model rockets, running and golf.

James is survived by his children, Michael (Carrie) Gregorich of Peterborough, NH, Ann Marie Rhodes of Andover, Massachusetts, and Patrick (Cheryl) Gregorich of Nantucket, Massachusetts and his grandchildren, Carter Rhodes of Somerville, Massachusetts and Madeline Rhodes of Denver, Colorado and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, James is predeceased by his siblings Gladys (Harold) Mechling and Kenneth (Brenda) Gregorich.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Monadnock Humane Society, located at 101 W Swanzey Rd, Swanzey, NH 03446.

Per his request, there will be no services.