James "Jim" Lopes

The son of Albert Lopes and the late Barbara (Seidl) Lopes, Jim was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Dec. 20, 1956. He spent much of his childhood in Germany, before his parents eventually settled in Taunton, Mass.

After graduating from Taunton High School in 1974, Jim attended the United States Military Academy in West Point and went on to serve four years in the Army. Upon fulfilling his military service, Jim pursued a career in aviation and went on to graduate from Harvard H. Ellis Tech in Connecticut.

Following the completion of his education, Jim quickly landed a job at Air Vermont and soon went on to work for Provincetown-Boston Airlines (PBA), Continental Express, Otis Air Force Base, and most notably, Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines, where he served as the Chief Inspector. Jim medically retired after 21 years of loyal service with Cape Air.

Upon completing his tenure in the Army and returning home to New England, Jim met his wife Paula (Tosti) Lopes, whom he was married to for 31 years. Jim and Paula lived in Underhill, Vermont before moving to Cape Cod in 1985. They spent the next 29 years together in Dennis, Mass. and had two children, Matthew and Joshua.

A loving father and husband, Jim was passionate about his many hobbies, including cooking, boating, fishing, gardening, and coaching his two sons in football and baseball. An incredible handyman with a wealth of knowledge, Jim was known for his sense of humor, generosity, and intelligence.

Along with his wife, his father, and his two sons, Jim is survived by his sister Patricia Andrade and her husband Manuel of Faial, Azores, his brother Michael Lopes and his wife Danielle of Enosburg Falls, Vermont, as well his many nieces and nephews.

His visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 from 5-8p.m. in the Doane Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 729 Route 134, South Dennis, MA. His funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 11am in Our Lady of the Cape Catholic Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, Brewster, MA. Burial will be private at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to VNA Hospice and Pallative Care of Cape Cod, 255 Independence Drive, Hyannis, MA 02601. For online condolences, please visit www.doanebealames.com