James E. Tweedy
James Tweedy Obituary
James Edward Tweedy, 86-years-old, died on October 22nd, 2013, surrounded by his family’s love. This exceptional man provided unconditional love, loyalty and devotion to his wife, Patricia (née Humphrey), his three children, David Tweedy, Jean Lilley and Ann Tweedy, his six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He lived his married life of 61 years with his wife Patricia in Seekonk, Massachusetts.
The youngest of five children of John and Jennie (Ohlson) Tweedy, Jim was born in Providence on November 13, 1926 and grew up on Sackett Street and in Roger Williams Park where he spent boyhood hours climbing trees, hopping trains and playing hockey. A gifted athlete and avid overall sports fan with encyclopedic recall of stats, Jim once tried out for the Cardinals farm league at the park. Jim had a fortunate first job as an usher at the Metropolitan Theater in downtown Providence where he saw some of the great big bands on tour. This gave him a chance to practice some of the swing dance moves that made him a phenomenal dancer.
Jim signed up for the Army during WWII at a young age. During basic training, he was provided a pair of prescription glasses and obtained a Sharpshooter’s badge. Jim was set to deploy to the Pacific campaign but was granted a different fate with the war’s end. He served as an MP at Fort Devens, MA and worked in the Boston field office of the OSS but decided to obtain a degree in accounting and finance at Bentley College through the GI Bill. Jim met his wife Patricia at The Grosvenor Building in downtown Providence where he worked as an accountant and she worked as a file clerk.
Jim worked for more than 40 years with the Factory Mutual Insurance Company (now FM Global). His skill at accounting was soon paired with his gift of eloquent communication and he spent most of his years at the company as an Account Executive.
An avid life-long learner, Jim devoured books and stayed well-informed on regional, national and international news. He enjoyed challenging bureaucracy and solving problems after most people would throw up their hands. Jim spent meaningful time at the ocean from his youth spent camping with friends at Matunuck Beach to his days as a father teaching his children to swim. He especially loved big surf and at age 84, Jim was the only one at the beach to attract the lifeguard’s whistle while riding five plus foot swells preceding a hurricane. Jim and Pat enjoyed traveling to England, Scotland, Ireland and Nova Scotia and a recent cross-country train ride to California, from Chicago to San Francisco, that retraced the trip he took as a young man to begin Basic Training at Fort Ord.
Jim had great joy in the company of his family and shared his wisdom with all of the generations on how to make sense of the world. He provided them with a superior example of how to live life with great courage and dignity.
A memorial service will be held at The Church of the Transfiguration on Broad Street in Cranston, RI. This was Jim’s family church where he served as an acolyte and married Patricia Humphrey on August 9, 1952.
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