James “Jim” M. Zeiba, of Derry, NH, passed away on June 19th, 2021, in Colorado, at the age of 54. Descending a hike to the top of Horsetooth Mountain with his wife Rebekah (Becky) and younger son Derek—a hike filled with characteristic warmth and humor—Jim suffered a heart attack.
Jim was many things to those who knew him: He was a devoted husband of 29 years, to Rebekah (née Johnson), his best friend, with whom he shared everything since they met in high school. He was unerringly a passionate, giving father to Drew and Derek. He was an original engineer, inventor, and businessman, and mentor to those he met throughout his career in the textiles industry.
He was a rare combination, as committed to respect and responsibility as he was unabashedly genuine, loving, and goofy—constantly joking, seeking fun, and never taking himself too seriously. Jim lived an abundant life in too few years; whether traveling across the country and continents with his family or watching a fire outside and enjoying a glass of wine with Becky, he took sincere pleasure in sharing moments with those he loved. He was generous in the most capacious sense: as a teacher, role model, and support to his children, there for every game and event, each special moment and each difficult one; as a devoted son himself; as a true partner to Becky; and as someone always jumping to help a friend or stranger in need. Through every changing chapter, he grew with his family and enriched the lives of all lucky to share theirs with him.
Jim was born on March 17, 1967 in Massachusetts to Shirley and James F. Zeiba. After graduating from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School in 1985, James went on to study at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth (1990) and the Institute of Textile Technology (1992) and had a distinguished career.
In addition to his wife and children, Jim is survived by his mother Shirley Zeiba (née Andre), his sisters Wanda Kopcych (partner David DeFino) and Kathleen Corbett (spouse Paul Corbett), and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Memorial calling hours will be held on Monday June 28, 2021 from 4 – 6pm with a period of sharing beginning at 5:30pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Road, Londonderry. Face masks are recommended for those not fully vaccinated.
The family asks that in celebration of Jim’s life and commitment to serving the vulnerable, donations be sent to The Trevor Project at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ or your local animal shelter.