Jim “TD” Harvey, 92, of Braintree, MA left this world peacefully on January 3rd, 2025.
He was born in Boston on January 28th, 1932 to the late John and Anna Harvey. Jim was a beloved husband to Elizabeth (MacNeil) Harvey, brother to Cate Harvey of Hanover, the late Julie Willett and Joan Morrissy. Jim was a loving father of James Harvey and his wife Kathy (Duke) Harvey of Concord NH, Patricia (Harvey) Walker and her late husband Bill Walker of Walpole MA, Cathy (Harvey) Silva and her husband Vic Silva of Reading MA, John Harvey and his wife Sara (Kopke) Harvey of Duxbury MA. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, one great granddaughter and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was a 1950 graduate of Miramar in Duxbury, MA. During his time here Jim built a brotherhood with his classmates and cherished these relationships long after his school days were over. While at Miramar students were required to play sports, as Jim would say, if you were decent you would become excellent. Jim’s love for sports stemmed from playing with his brotherhood. Everyday Jim would be watching the latest sporting event or catching up on the news of the games. It was always a topic of conversation that Jim was passionate about and could be seen through his use of baseball caps.
In August of 1955 Jim enlisted in the Army and was sent to Germany. In school Jim had learned German and became fluent in the language. This allowed him to be the German translator in the Army. Everyone that encountered Jim knew that he was a lively soul and would build friendships and connections with them even if they spoke another language. Through Jim’s humor and second language of German he would in later years still use phrases with his family. Due to his military background, Jim took pride in the American Flag. He would ensure that a flag would always be hung at the family’s Cape house. The house in which he “felt like a Kennedy.” The family has spent many days with Jim at this home where he would share stories of the military, seminary, trips to Ireland, what it was like growing up in Dorchester and even his day to day adventures.
Jim was also a proud member of the Braintree community and was involved in the North Braintree Civic Association. Even before Braintree had a mayor, Jim would ensure he was at town meetings and was a proud active member of the community. Jim’s love for Braintree continued in his social life where he became a member of the Braintree Golf Course after retirement. During his time as a member he was involved in playing at various golf courses and eventually evaluating them. Braintree will forever be known as Jim’s home as he spent many years involved in the community and raising his family here.
A private service will be held for family and close friends. Jim will have a private burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s honor to the Fisher House of West Roxbury, MA. The Fisher House Foundation is for families and caregivers of Veterans or active duty military who are receiving inpatient care at the VA.
Jim will forever be remembered for his laugh, story telling and love for family.