James N. Worcester, Jr., M.D., 89, of Mystic, died peacefully, after suffering a stroke a week earlier, surrounded by his family, on July 27, 2010, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, New London.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of 68 years, Connie; his daughter, Terry Crowley and her husband, John Crowley, of John's Island, Fla., his son, Steve Worcester and his wife, Sandy Worcester, of La Jolla, Calif., his son, Peter Worcester and his wife, Joanne Worcester, of Trumbull, his daughter, Leigh Carpenter and her husband, Ben Carpenter, of Greenwich. He is survived by 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his first son, Jim Worcester III.
Jim Worcester was born on July 19, 1921, in New York City, where his father practiced medicine. His early years were spent in Kennebunkport, Maine. He graduated from Deerfield Academy and Yale University. His Yale years were interrupted by World War II where he served in the Pacific Theater as an Air Force pilot. He returned to Yale and completed his undergraduate degree. He graduated from Columbia Medical School in New York City and completed his residency and training at New York Orthopedic Hospital, affiliated with Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Jim continued to practice orthopedics in New York, and developed pioneering orthopedic procedures. He subsequently opened a private practice in Bronxville, N.Y., and later Greenwich, and was the Director of Orthopedic Surgery at Greenwich Hospital.
Connie and Jim met in Kennebunkport as young children and married in 1942, when they were both 20. Their early years of marriage found them criss crossing the country together as Jim was an Air Force flight instructor prior to him being called to the Pacific Theater. Connie and Jim's marriage was a source of immeasurable joy to both of them, as well as to their family and many friends.
Jim was a serious outdoorsman, at one time a scratch golfer and later an avid sailor/ocean racer. Jim's love of sailing was deep and abiding. He owned a series of yachts named Rhapsody and competed in ocean races throughout the east coast. With friends and family, Jim went on many sailing trips throughout the world and, in the 90s, he and Connie lived on Rhapsody for eight winters while cruising the Abacos. He was a past Commodore of the American Yacht Club (Rye, N.Y.) and an active member of the Cruising Club of America and the Storm Trysail Club.
Throughout his life Jim had a passion for literature and authored a number of novels culminating in the publishing of Deland Island, a fictional novel about growing up in Maine.
Jim was loved and respected for his strength of character, wisdom and wry sense of humor. Jim was also a sensitive and kind spirit who was wonderful company while on the golf course, while sailing, or while sharing a meal with his friends or family.
He will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.
A celebration of Jim's life will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9, at the Stonington Golf Club, 396 Taugwonk Rd., Stonington.
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