Westborough/Andover – James S. Cleary of Westborough, Massachusetts, passed away on April 1, 2022, at the age of 55.
Born in Lawrence and raised in Andover, he was the son of David Cleary and the late Hermine (Smith) Cleary. Jim graduated from Andover High School in 1984 and then the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1990. Jim worked in the registrar’s office of Mass Bay Community College. He loved helping the students and his coworkers and he enjoyed volunteering on committees and event planning. Despite battling kidney disease his whole life he never let that battle define him, he was enthusiastic and a joy to be around.
Jim loved all kinds of games both board games and computer games he loved playing with friends and family. He liked to bowl, and bike, and travel to gaming conventions. He learned calligraphy, and was always trying to better himself and expand his experiences. His favorite times were with his brothers and his nieces and nephew, and teaching them a new board game that he had discovered. His nickname was ‘Tig’, due to his love of the bouncy character Tigger, it went so far as to have his last vehicle be orange similar to the color in Tigger’s fur.
Jim is survived by his father David Cleary and step-mother Heather Cleary, their 2 sons Liam and Gavin, his brother David Cleary, and sister-in-law TC Cleary of Centerville, MA, nieces Katie, and Shannon, and nephew Sean. He was predeceased by his mother Hermine Cleary.
A Gathering for Jim will be announced soon. Please refer to the funeral home website www.HaysFuneralHome.com for updates on planned services. Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main Street, Northborough, MA is assisting the Cleary family with arrangements.
