JENSEN, James Tennyson Of Auburndale, formerly of Weston and Moultonborough, NH, on February 18, 2023. Devoted husband of 62 years to the late Patricia Montgomery Jensen. Jim was born in Ravenna, Ohio on December 20, 1928, to the late James Edwin Jensen and Anna Grafelman Jensen. He is survived by his daughters Deborah Barker and her husband, Randolph, of Jackson, WY, Christina Swanson and her husband, Daniel, of Lake Oswego, OR and Elizabeth and her husband, James, of Holliston, MA. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren Emily, Lee, Stephanie, Jamie, James and Katie, his sister-in-law, Sheila Cleworth, and his nephews Montgomery and Peter Cleworth.
Jim excelled in school, graduating at the top of his class from Ravenna High School. Having planned to attend a nearby college, Jim was convinced by his uncle, Elvin C. Stakman, a University of Minnesota professor and a preeminent plant pathologist, that his future was at MIT. Jim graduated in 1950 with a BS in chemical engineering. He served briefly as an airman in the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force base and went on to graduate with an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1952.
Jim started his career at Arthur D. Little, where he worked for over 20 years as a petroleum economist and consultant. He left ADL to found Jensen Associates, a consulting firm specializing in energy economics, which he ran until his retirement. He was recognized for his expertise in international natural gas supply, demand, pricing and trade, and regularly spoke at energy conferences, gave expert testimony and was quoted in news sources and journals. He received the 2001 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Profession of Energy Economics and its Literature from the International Association for Energy Economics. He was a past President of the Boston Economic Club, a member of the International Association for Energy Economics, the National Association of Petroleum Investment Analysts and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Jim’s passions were family and fishing, ideally a combination of the two. He loved fly fishing with his sons-in-law in remote fishing spots, always returning to the family home on Lake Winnipesaukee. Anyone who ever fished with Jim knew that on a river or in a boat one discussed all aspects of life including family, politics, work and sports. He loved the Red Sox above all teams, visiting Fenway for the first time in 1948, when he saw Ted Williams play. He never forgot being at Fenway with a grandson when the Sox won the World Series at home in 2013. He collected wine, grew orchids, loved a game of poker and adored jazz music, especially New Orleans jazz and Bossa Nova. Known for his kindness, decency and positive outlook, he will be deeply missed.
A memorial service for Jim will be held at St. Peter's Church, 320 Boston Post Road, Weston on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 2pm. Anyone wishing to honor Jim’s memory may consider a gift to Lakes Region Conservation Trust, PO Box 766, Center Harbor, NH 03226 or the Loon Preservation Committee, 183 Lees Mill Rd., Moultonborough, NH 03254.