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James M. Osborne, Jr

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James M. Osborne, Jr

James Morris Osborne, Jr, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and dear friends on September 6 at his home on Appleberry Farm, Sandy Hook.

Jim Osborne was born on March 8, 1926, in Cleveland, the first son of Alice (Quayle) and James M. Osborne. His family moved to Chardon, Ohio, where he attended local schools, including a one-room schoolhouse and The Hawken School, before venturing east to Choate School in Wallingford, Conn.

He was a member of the Class of 1947 at Dartmouth College, leaving to serve in the US Navy, in the Pacific, where he was a Lieutenant on the cruiser USN Biloxi. He was among the first US Navy personnel ashore, after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to ensure the release of the US prisoners of war held in Japan. He returned to graduate from Dartmouth, where he was recognized as an All-American soccer player.

Jim Osborne and Betty Lou Brown of Sandy Hook were married on May 8, 1948, and settled on Appleberry Farm in Sandy Hook. He worked for the Y&O Coal Company and then the Connecticut Coal Company, serving as president for 40 years. He was also the chairman and president of the family-owned Dock Inc Shopping Center in Stratford. Jim and his sons, Bob and Mike, worked together for more than 20 years and Miss Marion Philbin worked with him for his entire career.

He believed strongly in supporting his community as exhibited by his many years of volunteer service to the town of Newtown. He served on the building committee for the Sandy Hook Elementary School and went on to become the secretary of the Board of Education.

Jim and his dear friend Ned Platt helped raise money for the volunteer fire departments, with the annual Fourth of July Fireworks display at Taylor Field at Hawley School. He was a leader in Boy Scout Troop 70, with the Rev Paul Cullins, and together they helped establish the camp and cabins for the Boy and Girl Scouts. With his strong love of baseball, he was a die-hard Cleveland Indians fan and coached Little League and Babe Ruth for many years. Jim played shortstop and second base for the Jacoby Bombers softball team for many years.

Jim Osborne served as a loyal member of the Newtown Rotary Club for more than 50 years. He received two Paul Harris Fellowship Awards and was a fixture at the Labor Day Parade, selling hot dogs, and making batter at the annual pancake breakfast with Bob Stokes every December. He was instrumental in getting the Rotary Club to support the establishment of the Heritage Preservation Trust to save the Newtown Meeting House, and served on the Board of the Trust. Jim was a member of the Men’s Literary and Social Club of Newtown Street and was treasurer of Zoar Cemetery Association.

He was a corporator and trustee of the Newtown Savings Bank for more than 35 years, and in 1996 was elected chairman of the board. He was also chairman of the board at Gray Horse, Inc, and the United Garage Door Company in Ohio.

Jim and Betty Lou had four children and 12 grandchildren, who all spent many memorable times together at Appleberry Farm; Sanibel Island, Fla.; Blue Hill, Maine; Williamsburg, Va.; Casa Grande, Ariz.; and Gray Horse Farm, Chardon, Ohio. He shared a love of animals with his family and always had a menagerie on the farm, from raccoons and skunks to cows and donkeys, while providing fresh peas, cucumbers, and corn to all. He walked every morning with his faithful dog, Louise.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty Lou, and his children, J. Robert Osborne and his wife, Inge, of Hamden, and their children, Owen, Devin, and Carly; Michael B. Osborne and his wife, Deb, of Sandy Hook, and their children, Rebecca Osborne and Katherine Osborne Munno and her husband, David; Dorothy Osborne Cox and her husband, Jay, of Guilford, and their children, Dalton, Kendall, Elizabeth, and Alice Frances; Susan Osborne White and her husband, Brian, of Newtown, and their children, Andrew, Ian, and Emmett; a sister, Allison Osborne Titgemeier and her companion, Richard Herr, and a sister-in-law, Audrey S. Osborne, all of Chardon, Ohio; four nephews, John Titgemeier, David A. Osborne, Richard M. Osborne, and James M. Osborne III; two nieces, Amy Titgemeier-Stevens and Anne L. Osborne. He was predeceased by a brother, David A. Osborne, in 1999.

Jim, the Admiral, Uncle Jim, Silver, Eugene, UJ, Fa, was the patriarch of the Osborne family. Those who knew him found support in his company and were touched by his gentle spirit. Those who loved him will cherish their memories. He will be with us always.

The family plans to hold a private graveside service at Zoar Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at the Newtown Meeting House, Main Street, on Friday, September 26, at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Newtown Scholarship Association, PO Box 302, Newtown, CT 06470 or the Heritage Preservation Trust of Newtown, PO Box 3082, Newtown, CT 06470 in Jim Osborne’s memory.

Arrangements by Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown.

The Newtown Bee      September 12, 2003

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