Passed away at the QEII Health Sciences Centre on October 21, 2024, after a short illness in his 84th year. Jim is survived by his loving wife Marie, Son David (Wendy) and Daughter Janice (Trevor) Spencer, all of Halifax. He was the cherished granddad of Adam, Aaron, Aidan and Sam, always eagerly staying up to date about the goings on in their lives, willing and able to offer guidance. Jim was the last surviving member of his family of origin, having been predeceased by his parents James and Charlotte (Heighton) deCoste, brother Jock deCoste and wife Jean all of Pictou N.S. as well as sister, Ella Josey and husband Harley. He is also fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim grew up in Pictou N.S. and liked to give back, working on Pictou waterfront projects many times within his career. He also shared the vision of Pictou residents having access to music and the arts, as well as a sense of civic pride and duty he shared with his parents whose contributions to the arts were recognized in the naming of the deCoste Centre and whose legacy continues to this day.
Anyone who knew Jim knew he was always in motion. From the many home projects, golfing, curling at the Mayflower Curling Club until well into his later years, hanging out at basketball games or watching the Raptors with David and Aaron, to maintaining a social and travel life, he lived actively with vigor. In his career Jim worked just as hard, a work ethic passed on to all of his descendants. As a civil engineer, both in Halifax as well as Boston Massachusetts, most of Jim’s career was spent with CBCL Ltd. A planner and problem solver at the core, Jim never met a project he couldn’t tackle. Where many may see a challenge, Jim would see an opportunity, as evidenced by the several homes he renovated with Marie and the ongoing “project” that is the cottage in Caribou River which truly became his labor of love to his family over the years. Jim held lifelong friends and was fondly referred to as “Nimmer” by them. In keeping with Jim’s' wishes, cremation has taken place. A private remembrance will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the deCoste Centre for the Arts or Hope for Wildlife.
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