James L. Price

Born to Martha Ludlow Price and Burton Scott Price, he was raised in a loving family with sister, Debbie Gundersen and brother, B. Scott Price in Newton MA. He was the youngest of the three and grew to be a strapping young man. He had many monikers, with Large later in his life being the most widely used. It was a good fit because ‘Large’ captured him physically along with his big sense of humor and heart

Married 65 years ago this past summer, he met the love of his life, Julia Elizabeth Perry on a blind date while at college. Jim attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT and was a brother in the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity. Wed in Keene, NH in 1959 where Julie was born and raised, they then moved to New Jersey where Jim worked as a chemical engineer for American Cyanamide. It was his most misplaced role ever as honestly, who can imagine Jim as a chemist? Certainly not him so he and Julie moved to Cambridge, MA where Jim got his MBA at Harvard.

After finishing business school, his next stop was Brown and Sharp in Rhode Island. Then Jim received a call from a fellow Harvard friend with this suggestion- Join him in taking over and reorganizing bankrupt companies. The first was a business growing, canning and selling mushrooms. It went on to be an international company before being sold. The next company was Iron Mountain- turned around and sold before it became what it is today. Over the years, Jim described his start as ‘the mushrooms’- the beginning of an entrepreneurial career of 50 plus years with a changing portfolio of about 20 companies.

Finally, Jim and Julie made their way to Northeast Ohio where he owned two food manufacturing companies- both iconic names in the region, The Weiss Noodle Company and the Ideal Macaroni Company. Jim was a fixture in the Cleveland area for 30 years. It was here that the name Large really stuck!

As a private pilot starting in his mid-20’s, Jim logged thousands of hours in the air commuting to different locations as his ownership in the companies required or when just plain fun called. Julie and the kids traveled extensively with Jim piloting to see family, friends and visit fun spots including every summer on Laurel Lake in Fitzwilliam, NH. Often there was a Saturday afternoon phone call from a friend somewhere else who had airport close by saying ‘Hey we are having a party tonight- you and Julie want to join us?’

At 57, Jim sold the companies and retired. He and Julie found their next community in John’s Island in Vero Beach, FL. where they spent their winters for the next 30 years. Vero Beach was also the retirement spot for many of Jim’s Trinity pals, Alpha Delta fraternity brothers and business school buddies and their wives. Jim had a full life there with friends old and new, travel, golf, cards and stuff! He would happily and often report to family up north- ‘Not a cloud in the sky now and there won’t be one tomorrow either. Too bad you’re not here!’

Five years ago, Jim and Julie decided to get a spot back up in New Hampshire to be closer to family- his daughter lives close by. It was here that Jim passed with his family by his side after a brief illness. Jim is already greatly missed.

Jim leaves behind a loving family- his beautiful wife, Julie, his two children- Dana Price Wasserbauer and Gage L. Price and grandchildren- Perry C. Wasserbauer, Harrison J. Wasserbauer, Lilly L. Price and Graham G. Price. Jim’s other son, Douglas S. Price, predeceased him and is probably with Jim right now.

Jim will be laid to rest in Keene, NH on December 30, 2024. There will be a service for him at Elm City Church, 75 Railroad St., Keene NH at 10:30am. His immediate family will attend his burial at Greenlawn Cemetery. There will be a luncheon in celebration of Jim’s life at Stonewall Farms, 242 Chesterfield Rd., Keene, NH starting at 12:30.

Plans are in process for a celebration of Jim’s life in Vero Beach, FL in early February and in the Cleveland area in the summer of 2025.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jim’s honor be sent to: Gifford Youth Achievement Center, 4875 43rd Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32967.