James H. Seaton

04/03/1933 - 12/30/2024

Ledyard - On Dec. 30, 2024, Capt. James H. Seaton's radio operator's key went silent, as his presence was requested and required on Eternal Watch. He was 91. Born April 3, 1933, to Earl D. and Ruth C. (Tregoning) Seaton in Peru, Ill., Jim was predeceased by his parents; brother Donald (85); and sister Lois Ann (2). He was a loving and devoted father to his children, Heidi G. Seaton of Niantic, Elizabeth A. S. (James) Dickerson of Lebanon, and M. Scot Seaton of Manassas, Va.; and to his beloved grandchildren: Liam and Ciaran Dickerson, and Victoria, Gavin and Misho Seaton. He also leaves several cherished nephews and nieces.

Jim received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University by way of the NROTC program in 1955. While at Purdue, he had the distinction of becoming head cheerleader and starting the freshman card section. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy on icebreakers, but transferred to submarines - where he found his true passion and travelled the world. He served as engineering officer on the USS Atka (AGB-3) and USS Bugara (SS-331), executive officer of the reserve unit on the USS Charles P. Cecil (DD-835), and as commanding officer of the reserve unit at NAVELEX Headquarters 101, Lawrence, Mass. More recently, he was a proud member of the SubVets Club in Groton, and the Holland Club, having been a qualified submariner for over 50 years.

While back at Purdue for his M.S. degree in nuclear engineering in 1962, Jim strategically dropped by the "wrong" picnic - a teachers' outing instead of the all-male NROTC picnic - and met his lifelong sweetheart, Sandra Kaye Mahaffy. They spent the next 54 years exploring the world together and were only separated by her passing in 2019. Jim and Sandy began married life in Torrance, Calif., and then Albuquerque, N.M. Jim worked first for General Electric on the inertial guidance system for the Polaris missile, and then North American Aviation on the guidance systems for the XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic strategic bomber. Ultimately, settling in Ledyard, to raise their three children in 1968. They built their home and lives together, knitted into the community they loved so well.

Continuing to serve as a naval reservist, Jim also worked as a civil servant operations research analyst for Submarine Development Squadron 12 at Naval Submarine Base New London, where he designed test programs to research and test submarines' capabilities and safety. On shore, Jim served as a Deacon at Ledyard Congregational Church, was an active Ledyard Lions Club member, and was a passionate Amateur Radio operator - attending meetings, mock emergency field days, and communicating with servicemen and people all over the world.

Upon retirement in 1995, he spent years volunteering to drive many clients of the Center of the Blind to their appointments - earning the Lions Club's Knight of the Blind Distinguished Service Award. He also made time to be a caretaker for Ledyard's War Memorials, served as a trustee for the Ledyard Bill Library and the Submarine Force Museum, and regularly attended SubVets events and memorials.

Ever a teacher, Jim kept active after Sandy's passing by calling in or visiting students as a guest in his daughter's middle school classes. He was loved by a new generation of schoolchildren and was known by all as "Papa Jim." They enjoyed hearing his submarine and sailor stories and learning about celestial navigation and historic sailing. A more supportive father could not be imagined. Jim was known for his humility as well as for his can-do attitude. He will also be remembered for skill and craftsmanship at anything he set his hands to do, particularly for the many carvings he has given away to friends, but especially for keeping a certain 1967 VW Bug running and intact for way longer than anyone ever expected.

Jim and Sandy had an extended family of friends and neighbors who also grieve them gone, as their home was always open to all. A celebration of Jim's long and loving life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 21, at Ledyard Congregational Church, 722 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the organizations that Jim loved and served: Southeastern CT Amateur Radio Society/SECARS (https://secars.org/secars-donation-page/); SubVets (https://www.ussvigroton.org/donations); or the South East CT Community Center of the Blind (https://centeroftheblind.org/donate/).