James Edward Hearl, Jr., 81, of Westford, MA, formerly of Winchester, MA and Marblehead, MA, passed away on March 16, 2016 after a lengthy illness. His parents James and Florence (Mitchell) Hearl, a sister Anne Hearl and a brother David Hearl predeceased him.
Born in Ben Avon, PA on November 19, 1934, Jim’s family moved to Woodstock, VA where he attended Massanutten Military Academy. Upon graduating, Jim attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the University of Virginia, majoring in Electrical Engineering. He joined the U.S. Army in 1954 working for the Army Security Agency. After an honorable discharge, Jim advanced with a variety of companies over the next several years, including Philco, Ford, Sprague Electric and United Technologies before founding Sertech Labs in Salem, MA. Sertech established a unique marketing concept that tested, selected, packaged and assembled semiconductor chips to the semiconductor industry and had subsidiary facilities in England and France. Jim sold Sertech in 1981 and pursued an ongoing sailboat ocean racing amateur career, winning many competitive PHRF races over the next several years with his motto being “Fast is Fun”. One of his significant ocean racing accomplishments still remembered by many was the Marblehead to Halifax, Nova Scotia race, a 350-mile race. He was first to finish out of a fleet of 55 boats and was first in class.
Jim also created and developed a microbrewery business in Pinehurst, NC, became an instrument rated private pilot, enjoyed downhill skiing, was a first-rate gourmet cook and had a passion for reading cookbooks.
His wife, Deborah (Witt) Hearl, daughter Abigail (Hearl) Frattini, son-in-law William Frattini, nephews Kevin Hearl, James Sturges, and nieces Natalie and Caroline Witt survive Jim. A Memorial Service has been held.