James Emmett Turner left his body on Friday, October 7, 2022, at 71-years-of-age, as the natural course of cancer, cirrhosis and aging took their toll. Jim’s gentle, pleasant disposition was predominant much of his life, and it shined a light through his dark shadows to keep them in their proper place.
Jim, the son of Margaret M Wagner and Kenneth R Turner, was born in the Chelsea Naval Hospital, arriving prematurely, and was blinded as a result of being given too much oxygen. His mother had an instinctual understanding of how to raise a child who was sightless, and she allowed him freedoms the same as she did her other children. Jim learned to ride a bike on the hills of Squantum, and crashes and scrapes didn’t deter him. With the shutting of his vision door, Jim realized the opening of other sense doors. He could play music by ear, and his wife, Nancy, recalls him hearing complex jazz music once or twice and being able to play it by ear on piano.
Jim was raised in Squantum, a neighborhood of Quincy, MA, and he was educated at the Perkins School for the Blind. He educated onward at Boston College, majoring in history and political science, and he graduated with honors. Jim returned to the Perkins School for training in piano tuning, which is where he met his wife, who was working with students who were sightless and without hearing. Jim moved to Orleans, where Nancy joined him, and he found work both as a piano tuner and as a musician/entertainer.
He performed all over Cape Cod, playing piano at restaurants and bars. Jim was delighted to have guide dogs, Greta, Moon, Bandit and then Qantas, all of whom were extraordinary companions. Jim loved history and had exceptional memory with facts and stories from the many books and shows he absorbed. He had a knack for knowing the local streets of several towns on the Cape and could give accurate directions to sighted people.
Jim is survived by his wife, Nancy Doniger-Turner, sister, Elizabeth Ann Turner Surprenant, cousins, Eric and Mark Lindholm, step-siblings, nephews and a niece and several in-laws and friend Bill North. He is predeceased by both his parents and his brother, Kenneth “Steve” Turner, who died just a few weeks before him, and by faithful 4-legged friends Greta, Moon, Bandit and Qantas.
Jim himself and his family appreciate the care and attention he received at home from nurses and caregivers with VNA of Cape Cod. All are grateful for the Federal and State governments’ compassionate social programs providing financial support and health care to Jim throughout his adult life. The team of caring people at McCarthy Care Center hospice provided compassion and attention to Jim and family during his last week. Dying at the McCarthy house was part of coming full circle, as over 30-years ago he worked there tuning their piano, which still remains in all its beauty.