James G. Golden

James Gerard Golden, 83, of North Kingstown RI, died on December 20, 2016 after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family.

Jim was born on August 20, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY to the late James and Edna (Bennett) Golden and raised in an Irish Catholic family. He graduated from Holy Cross College and joined the Air Force, where he trained as a pilot. An adventurous spirit, he continued to fly as a commercial airline pilot for US Airways, a career that he absolutely loved and that allowed him to travel the world.

In 1955, he married Anne Gorman, his soul mate and the love of his life. Together, they raised their children Stephen, Kristen, and Joanne in Hauppauge, NY. They enjoyed 61 years of wedded bliss, delighting in each other’s company—whether in a small trailer in Lubbock, Texas or on a huge cruise ship sailing through the Mediterranean; in the audience of Les Miserables, their favorite musical or in a gallery at the Louvre Museum; or camping with their kids in a rain-soaked tent at Fish Creek Pond or hosting Fake Thanksgiving in their home, surrounded by their many grandkids, family, and friends.

A warm and friendly host, Jim loved to be surrounded by friends and family. He devoted himself to his grandchildren and all manner of extended family—especially his wife Anne’s seven siblings and their loved ones (he always wanted to be a Gorman!), his many nieces and nephews, and even his children’s friends and colleagues. He enjoyed volunteering at The Autism Project. Jim loved to entertain people with tall tales, family legends, and ghost stories, or by singing harmonies and playing his ukulele. He would go to extraordinary lengths just to pull off a joke, and would always try to find humor in any situation, no matter how challenging. He appreciated fairness, kindness, and integrity, and he adored his President, Barack Obama. A generous person, he loved to share what he enjoyed—taking many people flying, sailing, and swimming with dolphins.

Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Anne (Gorman) Golden; their children and spouses, Stephen and his wife Beth (Karp), Kristen and her wife Barbara Findlen, Joanne and her husband John Quinn; grandchildren Adrienne and Jessica Golden, Grace and Sam Findlen-Golden, and Michael, Daniel, and Patrick Quinn; sister Edna and her husband James Murphy. He was predeceased by his older sister Betty Carter, infant twin sisters Catherine and Margaret, and his infant daughter Kimberly Anne.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 23rd at 10:00am at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial with military honors will be in Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown. Calling hours: Thursday, December 22nd 5-7pm at the Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory may be made to The Autism Project, 1516 Atwood Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919 (www.theautismproject.org) or to Friends of Children, 245 Russell Street, Hadley MA 01035 (www.friendsofchildreninc.org).