Obituary for James Brockmeier
Always doing things in his own way and in his own time, Jim passed away at his home in Acton on September 13, 2022 after walking one of his many favorite routes around town. Born August 12, 1942 to Catherine Weidmann and Norman Henry Brockmeier, Jim was an intrepid traveler before deciding that Acton was “perfect”, raising two daughters there with Carla, his wife of 52 years. Even after retiring from Hewlett-Packard/Agilent, he couldn’t imagine leaving the “fantastic” bike routes, swimming ponds, and kayaking rivers that he enjoyed.
Raised in St. Louis until moving to Harrington Park, NJ in his high school years, Jim studied Engineering Physics at Cornell University and rowed crew. When he heard of a new company in California hiring folks who could understand technology and communicate in sales, “I headed out to Palo Alto, walked through the front doors, and asked for a job.” Jim worked for HP in Palo Alto, Colorado, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
His professional life was a means to an end, though. He loved to be with family and friends. He loved to play - eagerly ready to bike, hike, play tennis or a board game. He loved to help - happily helping family, friends, neighbors, and children’s neighbors fix things, move heavy objects, and clean yards. He would always say yes. Though diagnosed with severe congestive heart failure, Jim spent the summer riding his bikes on the rail trails around Acton and Concord, greeting the other regulars, and inevitably finding his way to a quiet pond where he would float until he was finished. Then he would warm himself in the sunshine and ride home to Carla.
Jim is survived by family who will continue to enjoy life the way he modeled it: his wife Carla (Russ) Brockmeier; brother Norman Brockmeier, daughters and sons-in-law, Pamela and Adam Armstrong, Kristen Brockmeier and Michael Pitts; and his 3 grandchildren, James and Aaron Armstrong and Evelyn Pitts. Jim is predeceased by his parents and his sister, Carol Brockmeier Gastaldi.
A service will be held at St. Matthew’s Methodist Church, 435 Central Street, Acton at 11am on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
Remembrances may be made in Jim’s name to Household Goods, 530 Main St, Acton MA 01720, www.householdgoods.org or to St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 435 Central St, Acton, MA 01720.
Raised in St. Louis until moving to Harrington Park, NJ in his high school years, Jim studied Engineering Physics at Cornell University and rowed crew. When he heard of a new company in California hiring folks who could understand technology and communicate in sales, “I headed out to Palo Alto, walked through the front doors, and asked for a job.” Jim worked for HP in Palo Alto, Colorado, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
His professional life was a means to an end, though. He loved to be with family and friends. He loved to play - eagerly ready to bike, hike, play tennis or a board game. He loved to help - happily helping family, friends, neighbors, and children’s neighbors fix things, move heavy objects, and clean yards. He would always say yes. Though diagnosed with severe congestive heart failure, Jim spent the summer riding his bikes on the rail trails around Acton and Concord, greeting the other regulars, and inevitably finding his way to a quiet pond where he would float until he was finished. Then he would warm himself in the sunshine and ride home to Carla.
Jim is survived by family who will continue to enjoy life the way he modeled it: his wife Carla (Russ) Brockmeier; brother Norman Brockmeier, daughters and sons-in-law, Pamela and Adam Armstrong, Kristen Brockmeier and Michael Pitts; and his 3 grandchildren, James and Aaron Armstrong and Evelyn Pitts. Jim is predeceased by his parents and his sister, Carol Brockmeier Gastaldi.
A service will be held at St. Matthew’s Methodist Church, 435 Central Street, Acton at 11am on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
Remembrances may be made in Jim’s name to Household Goods, 530 Main St, Acton MA 01720, www.householdgoods.org or to St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 435 Central St, Acton, MA 01720.