Obituary of James B. Matthews

James B. Matthews of Moultonborough, NH formerly of Wayland, MA passed away on February 25, 2021. Born in Oswego, NY, Jim was the son of James F. Matthews and Helen L. (Schufelt). As a child, Jim was an avid runner and enjoyed mathematics and rocketry including a solo trip at the age of 14 to Chicago after having won a state award in airplane design. This led him to continued success at Le Moyne College. A four year letterman in Indoor and Outdoor Track and Cross Country, Jim captained each team and developed into a superb tactical runner. As much as he excelled at running, Jim was even more formidable in the laboratory. The two passions reinforced each other. The solitude of long-distance training provided fertile time for pondering physics; the physical exertion balanced the intellectual stimulation of science; the methodical approach to racing tactics mirrored the discipline of the laboratory. Because of this success, he was inducted into the Le Moyne College Hall of Fame in 1999. After graduating from Le Moyne in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics, Jim taught while working on his PhD at Cornell University as a physicist in the engineering school, leading one of the first courses on semi-conductors. Jim started his professional career at General Electric in Pittsfield, MA. Recognized as a leader in guidance system development, Jim eventually worked for Raytheon in Sudbury, MA where his skills were unparalleled. Upon his retirement from Raytheon, Jim consulted at Draper Labs for the U.S. Navy, and eventually started his own firm, MATHTEC, where he continued to research, design, and develop complex electronic systems. Highlights of his career include working on the Apollo Space Missions with Werner von Braun in Huntsville, AL, the Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident Missile Programs, Jim was the holder of several patents, and he was the first recipient of the U.S. Navy’s Exceptional Achievement Award. Later in life, Jim loved spending time with his family and friends and talking politics. Jim could be found with his family at their house on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee swimming, boating, fishing, and enjoying the summer sun, or rooting on the sidelines for all of the grandchildren’s sporting events. He was a member of the Meredith Rotary Club and loved supporting the annual Ice Fishing Derby, a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Charles Borromeo Council No. 17141, and a parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo in Meredith, NH and St. Adelaide’s, in Peabody, MA. Jim cherished his family. He was predeceased by the love of his life, Eleanor (Dirrigl), his wife of 63 years, whom he adored and cared for deeply. He is lovingly survived by his daughter Tracy Peter and her husband James of West Newbury, MA, his daughter Kelly Young and her husband Michael of Portsmouth, NH. “Boompa” is fondly remembered by his grandchildren Stephanie, Daniel, and Mark Peter, and Connor and Spencer Young. Jim is also survived by his brother Robert Matthews and his wife Gerri of Port St. Lucie, FL, and by nephews Mark and Michael (predeceased) Matthews. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visitation on Thursday, March 4 from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street, Peabody followed by his Funeral Mass in St. Adelaide’s Church, 712 Lowell Street, Peabody on Friday, March 5 at 12:30 PM. A burial service will follow the Mass at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 185 Lake Street, Peabody. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Meredith Rotary Club, PO BOX 1210, Meredith, NH 03253. For directions and online guestbook, please visit www.ccbfuneral.com.