Published in the November 3, 2017 edition
TEWKSBURY — James M. Hardy, 51, a resident of Tewksbury, passed away at home on Sunday, October 29, 2017.
Jim was born in Melrose on February 23, 1966, one of three children of Willis Hardy Jr. and the late Nancy Bremner-Stella. Raised in Melrose, Jim graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1985, where he served as co-captain of the MHS hockey team. He went on to Suffolk University to pursue a degree in finance, and joined the college hockey team. He met his wife, Laura Santo in Jr. High, and they were married on June 6, 1992. Settling in Tewksbury in 1997, Jim and Laura raised a family of two daughters. Jim spent his career in finance working for various institutions in Boston dealing with IT operations. For 12 years, Jim worked for State Street Bank as a Business Systems Analyst and a Senior Consultant and more recently at PanAgora Asset Management as a Senior IT Program Manager.
A sports lover and an athlete for his entire life, Jim grew up with a love for competition. From his youth in Melrose, he developed a love for hockey and continued playing well into his 40s. He also was an avid golfer who played on the Tour of Greater Boston for several years, and had hopes of joining the PGA Senior Tour someday. Everything Jim did, he did with passion and more often than not he was successful.
Always sociable, Jim made his presence known with his larger than life personality . He was smart and intense, but personable and made friends anywhere he went. An intelligent guy, he could talk about anything and often made people laugh doing it, but always remained humble.
Jim’s intent was simple, keep people smiling around him, and he was happy. Most importantly, his family meant the world to him. He coached his daughters’ softball teams from youth programs through high school, and served as the coach of their showcase teams all over New England. These teams competed in several other states across the country. This coaching experience led to lifelong friendships and brought him insurmountable happiness seeing his daughters succeed. He and his fellow coaches helped propel many players to achieve their dream of attaining a college scholarship through the sport they loved. He also had a love for music, his vintage Porsches, and visiting York Beach in Maine with his family in his younger years.
Jim was adventurous, fun loving, and could be a bit of a risk taker, but always stayed grounded with his family. He lived a full life in 51 years and impacted friends and family with his energy, and passion for life.
Jim was the beloved husband of Laura J. (Santo) Hardy with whom he shared 25 years of marriage. Devoted father of Andrea R. Hardy and Brooke M. Hardy, both of Tewksbury. Dear brother of Thomas C. Hardy and his wife Ellen of Marshfield, Pamela Bukowski and her husband Jason of Andover, and half brother of Bridget Hardy and Willis Hardy, III. Loving brother-in-law of Joseph Santo and his wife Maureen of Salem, New Hampshire. Caring son-in-law of Mary and Joseph Santo of Reading. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor and celebration of Jim’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Thursday, Nov. 2, his funeral service wll be at South Church, 41 Central St., Andover on Friday at 10 a.m. Interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Tewksbury. Gifts in memory of Jim may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 9 Erie Dr., Ste. 101, Natick, MA 01760. For online tribute, or directions visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com
