James Davis Gibbons

Lyme- JAMES DAVIS GIBBONS, James Davis Gibbons, 78, passed away from pneumonia on March 14, 2014, after keeping multiple myeloma at bay for 6 years. He died as he lived, having a wonderful time sharing reminiscences with his family, giving witty retorts and offering tax law insights at his bedside, pen and paper in hand.

Born to Frank and Laura Gibbons in West Roxbury, MA, Jim graduated first in his class from Boston Latin School in 1953. In 1957 Jim graduated from Harvard College where he received a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, in Economics. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in the top 1% of his class and first in the Economics Department. In 1959 he received his MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar. His additional awards, scholarships and honors are too numerous to list. For the next 39 years Jim served as a financial executive at Exxon Mobil, including posts as Assistant and Acting General Manager in the Philippines, Senior Managing Director in Japan, and Treasurer of Esso Europe in London. James retired as Treasurer of Exxon Corporation, International based in Florham Park, NJ.

Jim loved golf (he was proud of his 9 handicap and his a hole-in-one at London’s Highgate Country Club), the Red Sox, family gatherings, parties with dear friends, his “Exxon Family” and challenging suspicious bills, but above all he loved his wife, children and grandchildren. Jim and his wife Liz, his rock for over 50 years, retired to Old Lyme, CT in 2004, living Jim’s last years in a home they built in the woods overlooking Hamburg Cove. His memory will be treasured by the family he leaves behind. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Sullivan) and four children: James and his wife Jeanne of Brooklyn, NY; Adrienne Brooslin and her husband Andrew of Medfield, MA; Julie Murray and her husband Philip of Santa Fe, NM; and Peter and his wife Alina of Kew Gardens, NY. His later years were also warmed by the love of 7 grandchildren lucky enough to have felt the glow of this beautiful man: Joseph, Genevieve, Susannah, Johanna, Fritz, James and Marie. We will miss him forever. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, March 21st at Christ the King Church in Old Lyme, CT. A reception will follow at The Old Lyme Country Club. Burial will be private and at a later date. Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home of Old Lyme is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jim’s name may be made to Boston Latin School Association, through their website www.bls.org or by mail at 27 School Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02108.