MT. UPTON – Jerome “Jim” Chamberlain (1916-2013) died August 31, 2013, at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation of Laurel Lake, Lee, MA of natural causes brought about by old age – he was 97.
Jim was born in the small rural village of Mt. Upton, NY, the second child of Arthur and Clare (Wilcox) Chamberlain. Like his father, he loved and excelled in all sports, especially the game of baseball; in this he acquired considerable local acclaim. This talent and passion for all sports helped to center and sustain him throughout his long and active life.
In 1934 Jim met and fell in love with Neva A. Pidgeon of Norwich, NY. Their first meeting was over a soda counter where she served him a banana split; as their love grew, so did the size of Neva’s banana splits. In 1938 they married; three children were born: Craig Jerome, Eric Roger and Jan Ellen. In 1951 the family moved to Clifton, NJ where Jim worked for the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche, retiring in 1978.
After Neva died in 1985, Jim later met Arline Carman, whom he knew from his early school years. It was a fairytale meeting and courtship; they became snowbirds, wintering in Florida with warm months spent in New York State.
In 2005 Arline’s health began to fail and she eventually had to be admitted to a nursing home in Melbourne, FL. Jim was there every day, twice or three times, always present to help brighten her days. She died in 2008, and as in Neva’s death, he was totally bereft and lost without her.
Jim’s personal health began failing him; in 2008 he had a fall that required a hip replacement, eventually coming to MA to be near his family. He spent three years in assisted living; then the frailties of old age caused him to be admitted to the Kindred Nursing facility.
Jim was predeceased by his brother, Robert Chamberlain. He leaves two sons, Craig Chamberlain of Stephentown, NY and Eric Chamberlain (Lisa) of Stockbridge, MA; a daughter, Jan Marraccini (William) of Bangor, PA; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their extreme gratitude to the entire staff at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation of Laurel Lake for the attentive and compassionate care given to our father over the past two years. Thank you one and all.
Funeral Notice: A memorial service was held, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at 2 p.m. (with visitation beginning at 1 p.m.) at Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 NY Rt. 43, Stephentown, NY. A second memorial service was held on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, at 10:30 a.m., at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation of Laurel Lake, 620 Laurel Street, Lee, MA.