James Joseph Hyde

James “Jim” Joseph Hyde, age 87, of Hingham, Mass. passed away peacefully on January 12, 2021 with his daughter, Marianne and son, Jamie by his side. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary Ann (Bough) Hyde of Hingham, daughter Marianne Hyde and son-in-law Stas Zakrzewski of New York, son James “Jamie” Montgomery-Hyde and son-in-law Paul Montgomery-Hyde of Scituate and son Scott Hyde of Colorado. He was a proud grandfather of Zoe, Juliette, Danny and Teddy, a caring uncle to the Dellera family and a devoted Papa to his grand-pups Gus and Zen.

Born in Brookline in 1933, Jimmy was a proud son of Irish immigrant parents Anna and James. He often retold stories about his early life in his beloved hometown when a movie at Coolidge Corner Theatre cost 5 cents, and as the captain of the Brookline High School basketball team where he led them to many victories.

His love of sports was renowned. He paid rapt attention to Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Patriots games and followed local teams closely. He was known to loudly officiate as he watched sporting events – even casual pick-up games – whether it was welcome or not. He was a founding member of the Cape Cod Senior Softball league, playing well into his seventies. The league brought him tremendous joy and lasting friendships for many years.

In 2018, the Republic of Korea Veterans honored Jim for his service in the Army during the Korean War with the Ambassador for Peace Medal. Jim often recalled how fortunate he was to make it home safely from the war, and he never forgot the cold and wet conditions the troops endured. Vowing never to be cold again, he was known to commandeer the thermostat wherever he went, always turning it up as high as possible.

While a bachelor living on Joy Street on Beacon Hill in Boston, Jim was an enthusiastic entertainer and hosted many memorable parties. It was at one such party where Mary Ann Bough walked in, making an immediate impression on Jim. They soon courted and wed in 1967. It was the beginning of a life of family and friends filled with joy and world travels. The couple started their life in West Roxbury and then moved to Hanover where they raised their children and opened their doors to countless animals who needed a loving home.

The couple moved to Scituate in 1993 with their beloved Irish Setter Patrick. For many years they joyfully entertained family and friends at their home on the marsh near the banks of the North River. As Scituate became their home, Jim came to rely on the infinite wisdom of the Scituate Harbor Master turning to him not just for tides and boat navigation but as a source of local lore and life matters, such as how to challenge a water bill or if hunters are allowed on the marsh. He kept the Harbor Master very busy until his move to Hingham with Mary Ann.

At the end of a family call or gathering, Jim always declared to his loved ones, “I love you, Baby!” He adored his grandchildren in New York and Colorado. He took pride in their accomplishments and loved to see each of them grow into caring and empathic people who he knew would bring happiness and positive change to the world. One of his favorite rituals was taking his grandchildren daily to Morning Glories bakery for M&M cookies whenever they visited.

Jim was an avid and vocal participant in politics, and he never missed voting in an election. This fall while battling pneumonia he cast his ballot by mail and was thrilled to learn Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election.

Those that knew him will remember Jim his for his unflappable demeanor, sense of humor, kindness and love of his family. His curious spirit made him an expert on a wide range of topics including bat migration, all war movies and even Bigfoot lore and UFOs. He stayed curious and loving until his last day.

Jim’s family will plan a celebration of his life in the warmer months.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s honor to the Scituate Animal Shelter https://scituateanimalshelter.org/ or the International OCD Foundation https://iocdf.org/ .