Jason Paul "Captain Jim" Toabe

Jason Paul Toabe, age 97 of Naples, FL, formerly of Andover and Lawrence MA, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday June 20, 2022, at his home. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 46 years Florence (Bender) Toabe, parents Esther (Axelrod) and Samuel Toabe, sisters Sarah Levine and Ruth Fried, young son Scott Toabe, granddaughter Erica Musen, and first wife Joan (Sandler) Musen.

Born and raised in Lawrence, MA, from childhood Jim spent summers at Little Island Pond in Pelham, NH, where he developed a lifelong love of nature, fishing, and boating. A young man during WWII, Jim left college to serve in the US Navy as a pilot and was honorably discharged at the end of the War.

In the early 1950s, Jim took over leadership of the family business, Berger Paper Company in Lawrence, MA. An innovative and successful entrepreneur, Jim established many companies over his long career, most notably Robert Williams Inc. with plants in CA, CT, and IL.

Jim loved sports, including golf, racket sports, and fishing - passions he shared with his children, grandchildren, and friends. He was a long-standing member of the Andover Country Club and the Vineyards Country Club in Naples, FL. “Captain Jim” enjoyed many fishing adventures throughout the Americas. He was one of the few people worldwide to catch an albino sailfish – a phenomenal feat he achieved in Venezuela.

His legacy continues through his children Surah Whelan (Bob), Jane Toabe, Bill Toabe, Bob Toabe (Guanaira); stepchildren Marj Adler (Victor), Barb MacKenzie Rodgers (Rob), Ken Musen (Jan), and Laurie Murphey (Brian); and over 40 grandchildren and great-grandchildren who carry on his many teachings, generosity, and family traditions.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at Temple Emanuel, 7 Haggetts Pond Rd, Andover, MA 01810 at 11:00am, with burial immediately following at Temple Emanuel Cemetery, 202 Mount Vernon Street, Lawrence.

Donations may be made to either JDC’s Ukraine Emergency Fund, https://donate.jdc.org/give/393030/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=Ukraine22&c_src2=MainDP or Family Services of the Merrimack Valley, https://fsmv.org