James Anthony Southard

James “Jim” Southard, Sr. passed away peacefully on Monday, July 17, 2023 in Peterborough, NH. He was born on February 27, 1936, in Manhattan, NY, the first-born son of Elmer and Margaret Southard (Heywood). He is predeceased by the love of his life, Sarah “Sally” Tingle Southard by nine days. He is also predeceased by his brothers, John and Mark. Jim’s family moved to Littleton, NH when he was a young boy. He considered himself a New Hampshire boy through-and-through with a lifelong of the White Mountains.

Jim attended Middlebury College in Vermont where he met his wife of 62 years, Sally.  Jim skied for Middlebury, competing at the highest levels nationally, until his graduation in 1959. Jim and Sally were married in 1961, a week after her graduation. Middlebury has significant importance to both Sally and Jim including lifelong connections with their Middlebury friends. The Middlebury gang got together regularly for ski trips and the infamous summer “Cowshit” Festivals.

Jim and Sally started their life together in Massachusetts where he worked for Honeywell and where his two children, Karen Southard Nevin and James Anthony Southard Jr. were born. Jim then began work for Xerox and he and his family moved to Pittsford NY, followed by Weston, CT. Sally and Jim raised their children in Weston. Always active, Jim continued to ski, play tennis and golf as well as always maintaining a vegetable garden, despite the challenges he faced from deer. The family took many vacations together, including annual ski trips to Vermont and New Hampshire and family vacations to Europe and out West. These are fondly remembered by his children.

After retirement Jim and Sally designed and built a lovely home in Sunapee, NH and became very involved in the community. He was a ski instructor at Mt. Sunapee well into his 70’s and served as Treasurer of the Sunapee School District. Jim was particularly involved with the Council on Aging at the Chapin Senior Center in New London, NH, where he served as their Board Chair for many years. Their final move was to Rivermead Retirement Community in Peterborough. NH. Once again, Jim was involved in the Residents Council, helping to hire a new Executive Director, serving as Vice President and being in charge of the annual holiday solicitation for Rivermead staff.

Survivors are his children Karen Nevin and her husband, Christopher Nevin and James Anthony Southard, Jr. and his wife, Kristine as well his grandchildren, Aidan Nevin and his wife Hannah Shihdanian, Cameron Nevin and his partner Rebecca “Goldie” Harmon, Annie Southard and Griffin Southard and his great grandchildren, Bella, Jaime and Bear Nevin.

There will be a gathering of remembrance this Saturday, July 22 at 11:00 at The Jellison Funeral Home, 25 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of Jim to the Council on Aging-Chapin Senior Center in New London, NH.