May 30, 1924 – May 10, 2019

Jim was born in Brooklyn, New York to Grace and Wilbur Abrams and grew up with brother Wilbur and sister Lillian. As a teenager he worked at the Esso headquarters at Rockefeller Center which was the beginning of a long career with Esso/Exxon. In 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. His distinguished service as a navigator (Quartermaster First Class) on the U.S. Ship Mount Olympus was based in the Pacific theater including the Philippines (Leyte) and Tokyo Bay at the Japanese surrender. During this time Admiral Richard Byrd befriended Jim as a fellow navigator. At the end of the war Jim was anxious to return to New York and continue his courtship of and marriage to Shirley Faye Swingle, the love of his life. Jim and Shirley were married on July 10, 1948. Jim attended Brooklyn College earning degrees in Chemistry and Geology while at the same he continued to work at Esso. In 1951 son James Whitney and in 1954 daughter Leslie Elise were born. In the mid-1950s the family moved to the idyllic town of Shrub Oak in Westchester County, New York while Jim started traveling overseas for work purposes. In the late 1950's the entire family moved to Nairobi, Kenya. In the early 60's the family returned to Shrub Oak, but in 1968 again went overseas to Karachi, Pakistan where another set of adventures awaited. Jim co-owned a sail boat so many weekends were spent at the Karachi Yacht Club sailing on Karachi Bay with family and friends. In 1970 the family moved to beautiful Singapore, this time staying for 8 years. Jim spent a good amount of time traveling all over South East Asia, India, and Australia for business. He also was a part of one of the first delegations of American business leaders to be invited to mainland China. Jim's final overseas assignment was to Manila, The Philippines, then to Corpus Christi, Texas where Jim retired. Jim and Shirley enjoyed their many years as Texans, Jim as an active volunteer and Chairman of the local SCORE chapter and avid golfer. During this time Jim and Shirley traveled to areas in the U.S and Canada and arranged for wonderful family vacations. Due to Shirley's health issues, they relocated to Mt. Dora Florida in 2003 which was to be their final home. The Waterman's Retirement community was a wonderful place for them to live with great neighbors, staff, and caregivers. As Shirley's health declined over the next decade Jim was totally devoted to making sure she received proper care and was comfortable and he more than accomplished this. Jim was a loving and devoted husband and was well-known and admired for arranging for a single white rose to be in the Waterman Chapel every Sunday after Shirley passed. Jim was a man of high values and ethics, authentic, honest, compassionate, a true Christian, devoted husband, son, father, grand and great-grand father. He was proud of his family and their accomplishments and supportive of the challenges life presented to them.

Surviving family members include son James, daughter Leslie, daughter-in-law Robin, four grandchildren Randy, Russ, Courtney, Nick, and four great-grandchildren Brody, Bailey, Grace and Charlotte.

Donations in honor of Jim's life can be made to Journey's End Animal Sanctuary at journeysendsanctuary.org