Obituary of James B. Grimes, Jr.

James (Jim) Bradford Grimes, Jr., 67, of Manchester, CT passed away on April 24th, 2023 from a brief illness surrounded by the love and care of his wife, two daughters, and sister.

Though born at a Naval Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on October 5th, 1955, to Mabel (Jones) and James Grimes Sr., Jim was raised in Manchester, CT where he would reside for the remainder of his life.  

Jim was a self-made man of irrevocable perseverance. He graduated from Manchester High School and then earned an undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Connecticut, eventually pursuing a career in insurance. After embarking as a business owner of Clarke Insurance, he spent the latter half of his career as a Senior Insurance Agent at Smith Brothers Insurance for 18 years before retiring at the age of 65. 

Jim was very passionate about sports. For over 25 years, Jim played as an outfielder on various softball teams winning countless tournaments. When he wasn’t playing on the field, Jim would be cheering on his favorite sports teams, the UConn Mens and Women’s Basketball Teams, and the New York Yankees. 

Jim cherished taking his family fishing, hiking at Case Mountain, camping at Burlingame State Park, and body surfing the waves of Misquamicut State Beach in Westerly, Rhode Island. When he wasn’t out exploring, you could find him enjoying the sunshine on the patio with a good book or listening to a Yankee game on the radio.

Jim is survived by his wife Fionnuala Purcell Grimes, daughters Taylor Grimes and Casey (Michael) Hughes, his beloved grandchildren Kensington and Cooper Hughes, his stepdaughter Sahrica Purcell, sister Sandra Mistretta, mother-in-law Gabrielle Purcell, nephews Mark (Dawn) Mistretta and Jason (Karen) Mistretta, nieces Sara Mistretta and Jennifer (Juan) Juan, and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Jim’s passing is preceded by his mother, Mabel Grimes and his father James Grimes Sr., as well as his sister Kathleen Smith, brother in-law Jimmy Mistretta, and nephew Bucky Smith.

Jim lived well, laughed often, and loved much. His radiant personality was constantly displayed through his expert storytelling, lessons on history, and classic jokes. He was constantly filling rooms with laughter and joy. Most of all, Jim’s greatest ambition in life was to be a loving father and devoted husband—his love for his family was unconditional. Jim taught his family to work hard, do everything with integrity, and laugh at every moment life has to offer. 

Please join us in honoring the life of James Bradford Grimes, Jr. on Sunday May 21st, 2023 from 1pm–3pm at John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center Street, Manchester, CT. A memorial service will begin at 2 pm. 
The family of James Grimes wishes to thank the wonderful and caring ICU and Neurology staff at Hartford Hospital.