- Date Of Birth: November 16, 1922
- Date Of Death: September 6, 2011
- State: Connecticut
James (Jim) Howard Woodworth, 88, of Farmington, formerly of West Hartford, died peacefully, surrounded by his devoted family, on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. He is now reunited with his beloved wife, Dorothy (Dunne) Woodworth, who predeceased him in 2007.
Jim was born on November 16, 1922 in Syracuse, NY, the youngest of six children to the late Charles C. and Mary (Kennett) Woodworth. He attended local schools, where he was a self described jock excelling in lacrosse and football. After graduation Jim sought to follow in his older brothers’ footsteps and enlisted in the U.S. Army during W.W. II. Following his discharge, he entered Syracuse University, where he received his Masters Degree in Education. He held his first teaching position in Painted Post, NY. Later employed by the Hartford Fire and Casualty Company, he moved to San Francisco. Upon his return form the West Coast he came to work in the home office in Hartford, where one day, over lunch at the YMCA, he met the love of his life, Dorothy. Jim, with his convertible and his apartment, and Dot with her fur coat and her piano, felt they “had it all” and went on to share 54 years of love and life adventures together, raising their family of two. A man of vast knowledge and a true math whiz, he worked as an executive for the better part of three decades at The Hartford, retiring in 1978. He never lost his enthusiasm for sports. He coached football and basketball in his early years, and later coached lacrosse at Trinity College. He was a true golf enthusiast until his failing health and eyesight prevented him from pursuing his passion. A kindhearted gentleman, Jim lived his life to the fullest, and leaves his family with many cherished memories. He is survived by his daughter The Reverend Martha Woodworth Whitehead, and her husband Timothy Whitehead of West Hartford; his son Timothy J. and his wife Beverly (Ouellette) Woodworth of Plainville, and his grandson, Curtis Woodworth of Plainville. “Uncle Jim” was blessed to have many, many nieces and nephews who rarely, if ever, forgot to remember him on birthdays and holidays.. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his step-mother, Florence (Eckoff) Woodworth; and his siblings, William, John, and Robert Woodworth, Ethel Withers, and Ruth Monfort.
The family wishes to thank the remarkable and caring staff at Hughes Health and Rehabilitation for their kind and loving care of Jim during the last several months of his life. He was a favorite of many of the staff and they enjoyed his company as much as he did their companionship.
