James K. Wilson

James K. Wilson died of heart failure at his Cambridge home on January 4, 2023. Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Jim had a keen scientific mind. He found his calling when he was a junior in college and decided to become a veterinarian. “Jim” to friends and family and “Dr. Wilson” to his clients at Fresh Pond Animal Hospital, which he founded in 1978, his was a household name in Cambridge and the surrounding towns for decades. He was the friendly veterinarian with the warm smile who provided compassionate and highly skilled care to thousands of cats and dogs—and even the gerbils from a nearby nursery school. He was everyone’s go-to diagnostician and problem-solver, pursuing his wide range of interests with enormous curiosity and depth. He generously shared his knowledge with others.

He leaves behind his immediate family: his wife of 37 years, Janie Shur; his beloved daughter, Anna Shur Wilson and son-in-law, Luis Sano-Espinosa; his siblings, Cheryl and Donna; two nephews and one niece, three grand nephews, and a large chosen family. After Anna was grown, Jim and Janie left Belmont for a two-family house in Cambridge. They lived downstairs, and their lifelong friends lived upstairs. “We went from a hippie commune to a yuppie commune,” Janie recalls. The yuppie commune became a mecca for students, international travelers, and friends of friends who needed a place to stay—for days, weeks, or even months at a stretch.

Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in his early fifties, Jim was a fighter. He lived each day buoyed by the love of his family and friends, never allowing his health challenges to crush his spirit or wry sense of humor. He always found a way to laugh and make others laugh. He was in a rock band in his twenties and liked to say he chose the bass because it only had four strings. He loved to travel, listen to music, and was an accomplished audiophile. He spent extended periods every year at the family home on Sebago Lake in Maine. He and Janie ventured out on his Vespa and toured the back roads in their Miata convertible. A great cook and connoisseur of food and wine, Jim loved hosting dinners with Janie for friends and family.

Burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery will be private. A memorial service will be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Jim’s memory to the Stone Mountain Arts Center Feeds the Need program in Brownfield, Maine, by check at SMAC, 695 Dugway Rd., Brownfield, Maine 04010 or https://stonemountainartscenter.com/meal-payment.php