James Michael "Jim" Loomis

1941 - 2022

Mystic - James Michael "Jim" Loomis (aka Pop) passed away peacefully Nov. 21, 2022, after battling Lewy body dementia. We believe he finally surrendered after the harsh realization that he had stopped "getting better looking every day." He will be remembered for his clever one-liners and so much more.

Jim was born April 16,1941, in New York, N.Y., to Margaret (Murphy) and Arthur Loomis. His early years were spent with his Irish grandparents in Washington Heights. His grandfather instilled in him a love of baseball which resulted in countless Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees games. His high school years were spent in Rhinebeck, N.Y. At age 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and served in Japan as an electronics technician. He was chosen for Officers Candidate School and then flight school. Thus began his lifelong career in aviation.

During the Vietnam War, Jim volunteered for an exchange program with the U.S. Air Force. He was one of a select group of only eleven USCG pilots that flew combat rescue missions in Vietnam. Jim was humble, but proud of this distinct act of heroism. After his Vietnam service, he was assigned to be a flight instructor. He traveled to many USCG Air Stations instructing young pilots. His home base was Mobile, Ala., but he spent time in Alaska, California, and Puerto Rico.

He married Janice in 1975, and was stationed in Brooklyn, and Cape Cod. He retired after 20 years of service as a decorated lieutenant commander. Once a civilian, Jim landed his dream job as a pilot for Wayfarer Ketch Corporation (pun always intended); and he and Jan settled and raised their family in Bridgewater. During the next 15 years, he flew the world with many interesting passengers including the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. He regaled his family and friends with "elevator stories" of the people he met on his adventures (often in an elevator). When not traveling, Jim filled their home with music and humor. There was no shortage of big ideas, passionate opinions or happy hours. His fashion choices were questionable, his love was indisputable.

Jim spent his retirement years helping his daughter, Genine, open a restaurant, fighting for recognition of the USCG airmen lost in Vietnam, and coaching his grandson in baseball, all while trying to figure out how to operate his latest iPhone. Although divorced from Janice after 31 years of marriage, his quiet affection for her remained, demonstrated in thoughtful gestures, such as the gift of an air fryer for Christmas in 2020. It can be argued that nothing tops an air fryer, but his keen intellect and sharp wit are the gifts we'll cherish most.

We imagine Jim is flying the friendly skies with his loved ones who predeceased him: his parents; his brothers, William and Arthur; his stepdaughter and apple of his eye, Genine Zavala; and his dogs, Harley and Jake. He is survived by his favorite daughter (by default) Sarah Loomis Crawford (Christopher) of Marblehead, Mass.; his favorite stepson (also by default) Justin Primeaux of Noank; his grandchildren, Phoebe and Charlotte Crawford and Ramiro Loomis Zavala; numerous nieces and nephews; his dog Calvin; and an epic vinyl collection. Jim was most recently cared for by the staff of Academy Point and his private aide, Fatao, who devoted himself as if Jim were his own father.

In lieu of flowers, consider treating others with similar empathy and compassion shown to Jim in his final weeks. We also ask that you find time this celebratory season to raise a glass to the one & only, Pop. Graveside services will be held at noon, Tuesday, Dec. 6, at State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown.