Hudson, MA
James N. Attaway, 68, of Hudson and Dennis, Cape Cod, died at his residence surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, Jan. 12th. He is survived by his wife of 33years, Sheila (Kennally) Attaway of Hudson.
Jim was born in Mobile, Alabama, son of the late Mary Etta (Attaway) Friedman. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1960 in Newport News, Virginia following high school. He attended Scottsbluff Jr. College in Nebraska where he received conference honorable mention as an outstanding collegiate quarterback. He later attended Adams State College in Colorado where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Westchester College in Pennsylvania receiving his Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Jim began his long career as a Physical Education Instructor at Clark High School in Clark, NJ, followed by assignments at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, NH, Lincoln Sudbury High School in Sudbury, Marlborough High School, Dean Jr. College in Franklin and B.F. Brown Middle School in Fitchburg. He retired to Dennis on Cape Cod in 2005 with his wife Sheila and remained active as a substitute teacher for the Dennis-Yarmouth School System.
Jim not only had a long career as a teacher but also spent many years as a football coach. He was a dedicated assistant coach at Westchester College in Pennsylvania, Hanover H.S. in New Hampshire, Dartmouth College, also in Hanover, Lincoln Sudbury H.S., Marlborough H.S., Assumption College in Worcester, Holy Cross College in Worcester and Hudson H.S., where he had the privilege of coaching his two sons, Zachary and Bryant Attaway, a time the family all cherished. He was also a former head coach at Dean College in Franklin where he had the privilege of coaching his two sons Scott and Peter Thompson and led the Demons to their first bowl appearance which was played in South Carolina. Jim also spent many years as a member of the Marlboro Shamrock’s semi-professional football team as a player, assistant coach and head coach. He was instrumental in the Shamrock’s rise to prominence during the 1990’s as the defensive coordinator of several National Championship teams. Jim also served as an assistant film coordinator for one year at Boston College and was a former counselor for the C.E.T.A program in Maynard. He was a member of Saint Michael’s Parish in Hudson.
Besides his wife Sheila, Jim is survived by his eight children, Scott P. Thompson and his long time companion Karen Bunton of Shrewsbury, Peter K. Thompson and his wife Nanette of Sanford, North Carolina, James S. Attaway and his wife Stephanie, Kelly A. Conner and her husband Lou all of Ocean Port, New Jersey, Jami A. Thompson and her husband Michael of Queensbury, New York, Zachary J. Attaway and his wife Carrie, Lindsay E. Attaway, Bryant P. Attaway, all of Hudson and was predeceased by his son, Francis G. “Tommy” Thompson IV. He is also survived by his two brothers, Stephen Friedman and his wife Gerry of Toms River, New Jersey, Eugene Friedman and his wife Anita of Ocean Port, New Jersey and his 14 grandchildren who knew him as “Papa”, Emma, Chelsea, Jackson, Samuel, Kennally, John Michael, Robbie, Olivia, Madison, Cooper, Jacob, Taylor, Sean and Ryan. He was the brother of the late Richard Friedman of Long Branch, New Jersey.
Jim will always be remembered by his family and friends as a loving and compassionate man.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, Jan. 17th at 9:00 a.m. in Saint Michael’s Church, 21 Manning Street, Hudson. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, Jan. 16th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, Inc. 50 Central Street, Hudson, MA 01749. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory may be made to: UMASS Memorial Hospice, 650 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605.