James Alexander Waddell

Hampton - Son of Rita and AB Waddell, Jim Waddell was a builder—a builder of community and people, and in that, he can’t be separated from his wife of fifty years Nancy. They met at Merrimack College, were soon married, had boys Chris and Matt and were off on an adventure. First it was Hampshire Country School in Rindge, New Hampshire, a school for gifted who needed additional support. Then it was foster parents for eight girls in South Hadley, Mass, which was when Jim started his teaching career, first in Special Ed and later in computers with a little bit of everything else along the way at Belchertown, Massachusetts High School and Middle School, a place he would stay for three plus decades. The family often joked that he was busier in retirement than during his career. He served as a New Hampshire State Representative, and as Selectman in Hampton, New Hampshire in addition to being the Director of the Waterville Valley Adaptive Ski Program and a Captain sailing instructor at Satori Sailing in Salem, Mass, but the truth was that he’d never been idle and was consistently side by side with Nancy as ski instructors at Mt Tom and then Berkshire East, ski and soccer coach at Belchertown after coaching Chris and Matt’s youth teams, camp counselor and waterfront director at Adirondack Woodcraft Camps, and then after Chris had a paralyzing ski accident, adaptive ski instructors at Mt Snow , VT and Waterville Valley, NH. Jim and Nancy shared a passion for people and the community and a unique desire and talent to get everyone involved. They followed the grandkids to Hampton, NH and soon became a loved couple in their adopted town with Jim serving as the Chair of the Board of Selectmen and Nancy heading up the Christmas Parade. They attended almost every game and school function, regardless of time or driving distance for grandchildren Mills, Hayes and Ella. Jim died Sunday October 13th at 78 of natural causes, a life well and thoroughly lived and probably a broken heart as Nancy predeceased him by almost five years. They are survived by Jim’s sisters Anna and Eileen, brother George, sons Chris and Matt, daughters-in-law Jean and Jennifer, and in couple’s eyes, most importantly grandchildren Mills, Hayes and Ella. Celebration of Life for Jim Waddell - Saturday October 19, 2024, 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Best Western Conference Center (behind the hotel) 815 Lafayette Rd, Hampton, NH In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to two organizations close to Jim’s heart: Waterville Valley Adaptive Ski Program: http://www.watervilleadaptive.com/donate.html One Revolution Foundation: https://onerevolution.org/donate/

James Alexander Waddell

March 21, 1946 - October 6, 2024