James G. Staley Sr.

James G. "Jim" Staley Sr., age 85, of Maynard, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 12, 2024. He was the loving husband of Nancy L. (Diederich) Friedrichs. 

 Jim was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 17, 1939, son of the late Glenn L. Staley and Ethel (Graves) Staley. He was raised and educated in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating from East St. Louis High School, class of 1957. Upon graduation, Jim continued his education at the University of Missouri, Rolla, earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, class of 1961. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Northeastern University, class of 1996. Jim and Nancy married on May 7, 2005. 

 Professionally, Jim was driven by a desire to understand how things work. This led him to a very successful 57-year career as an electrical engineer, retiring at the young age of 78. He worked for companies such as GTE, Sylvania, Advent, Analogic, Raytheon, and Analog Devices across the states of Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts. He loved to work and held several patents in power systems and imaging for products such as hi-fi and stereo equipment, MRI machines, patient monitoring equipment, and lithium battery supplies. When in the hospital himself, he often talked about his work on the machines in the room and his part in their development. He also won several recognitions and awards for his solutions to problems and projects and mentored and taught younger engineers. All of this fueled his drive to keep working for such a long time. 

In his personal life, Jim had many passions. Those who knew Jim knew of the beautiful flower gardens he created with Nancy (wife) here in Maynard and at every home he lived. He enjoyed walking visitors through his creations filled with steppingstone paths, handmade benches, and vibrant displays of flowers throughout the seasons. He was an avid reader with interests across the genres. He loved to learn and so he was constantly sharing stories of documentaries he had watched, museums he had visited, or books he had read. Additionally, Jim enjoyed woodworking, furniture making, and stamp collecting. Prior to March of 2020, Jim volunteered at the Boston Marathon with the ham radio emergency notification group, and he wore his volunteer jacket proudly throughout the spring. Jim started swimming on his high school team and kept at it until just recently. He loved the outdoors and spent one year hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail. He also loved to travel, which he did often within his professional career, but continued to do with his family when his children were young and later with his wife, Nancy. 

Jim loved music of all genres. It was not uncommon to find out that he had attended local concerts with Nancy. But Jim was a skilled piano player himself, beginning early in his teens and playing throughout his life. In 2023, he began piano lessons again at Groton Hill and was working on his first recital piece for January 2025. His desire to keep learning was always prevalent. 

Family history was very important to him, and he was continuing his brothers’ work on family genealogy. While traveling, he would visit European towns where ancestors had lived, and he had recently helped to organize a 2023 family reunion at the original Graves Homestead in Connecticut and was working on the next one for 2025. 

Jim will forever be remembered for his quick wit and dry sense of humor; his high intellect and sense of wonder; and his kind, quiet, compassionate heart. It was important to him to make and keep connections with family and friends and his compassion for others will be missed, as well as his presence at all the events that he felt was important to be there for. 

Jim is survived by his wife Nancy, his daughters Jeanette Lynn Staley, Victoria Staley Murphy (Glenn) and son James Staley, Jr (Robin), his grandchildren Zoe, Jimmy, Michael, Colby, Trinity, Nicholas, and Telly. Additionally, Jim leaves behind three great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, and nephews, all of whom loved him dearly. He was predeceased by his brothers, Glenn, Miles, and Wayne and his sister, Ruth. 

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Jim on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at First Parish Church of Stow 353 Great Road, Stow MA, 01775. His Funeral Service will be celebrated following the visitation at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery, Maynard. Arrangements under the care of Fowler-Kennedy Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, Maynard. To share a memory or offer condolence visit: www.fowler-kennedy.com. 

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory could be directed to the First Parish Church of Stow, MA or the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Post History in Weston, MA