Obituary for James Eldridge "Jim" Galusha
James “Jim” Eldridge Galusha, 73, of Blair Road in Williamstown, died March 2, 2023, at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio surrounded by his wife and children after a valiant battle following surgery.
Born in North Adams on October 27, 1949, son of Daniel Eldridge and Mary Lou (DeMayo) Galusha, Jim graduated from Mount Greylock Regional High School and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
As a lifelong resident of Fairfields Farm, a five-generation dairy farm started by his grandfather Daniel Jones Galusha in 1905, Jim worked exclusively on the farm through his 20s.
After an adventure out west and time working on a western ranch, Jim came home, branched out into heavy equipment and excavation work, and eventually founded Jim Galusha Excavating in the early 1980s. He continued to support Fairfields Farm throughout his life and was also the president of nearby Green River Farms for a period of time.
His fleet of big trucks, tractors, excavation and snow plowing equipment have been a staple in Williamstown for decades. For many years, Jim’s team of draft horses were a highlight of the Williamstown 4th of July parade, and in the last few years, his impressive tractors have become part of the yearly parade’s grand finale.
Jim had his piloting license and enjoyed flying his planes in early years. Besides his family, Jim’s other passions were his animals. In addition to his dogs, Jim always owned a few horses and was an avid western style horseman. He enjoyed giving family and friends rides around the farm in horse-drawn wagons and sleighs, on snowmobiles, four-wheelers and in one of his many old jeeps. He loved the fields and mountains surrounding his home with a deep passion and enjoyed sharing them with others.
Jim met his wife Jacqueline (O’Brien) Galusha in 2008. After a summer romance, the story has it that by that fall, Jim had flown to Paris, where she lived, to bring her back home to Williamstown with him. They were married in 2012.
Jim will be remembered driving through town in his truck, with a favorite dog riding shotgun, to meet up with friends and clients, many who were both.
Along with his wife, Jacqueline, Jim leaves a daughter, Sarah Galusha and her husband, Matthew Chinman, of Pittsburgh, PA; his son, Jay Galusha, and partner, Lori Spencer, and two brothers, John Galusha and partner, Jamie Bairstow, and Bill Galusha and wife, Kelly Galusha, all of Williamstown; five grandchildren, Lauren, James and Cassie Galusha and Luke and Nate Chinman; three great grandchildren, Oakleigh Roberts and Paisley and Lainey Howes, and nieces, nephews, countless cousins and others who loved him as a brother, father and grandfather.
A memorial service celebrating Jim’s life will take place Monday March 20, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Thompson Memorial Chapel on the campus of Williams College.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to The Trustees of Reservations through the Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.
Born in North Adams on October 27, 1949, son of Daniel Eldridge and Mary Lou (DeMayo) Galusha, Jim graduated from Mount Greylock Regional High School and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
As a lifelong resident of Fairfields Farm, a five-generation dairy farm started by his grandfather Daniel Jones Galusha in 1905, Jim worked exclusively on the farm through his 20s.
After an adventure out west and time working on a western ranch, Jim came home, branched out into heavy equipment and excavation work, and eventually founded Jim Galusha Excavating in the early 1980s. He continued to support Fairfields Farm throughout his life and was also the president of nearby Green River Farms for a period of time.
His fleet of big trucks, tractors, excavation and snow plowing equipment have been a staple in Williamstown for decades. For many years, Jim’s team of draft horses were a highlight of the Williamstown 4th of July parade, and in the last few years, his impressive tractors have become part of the yearly parade’s grand finale.
Jim had his piloting license and enjoyed flying his planes in early years. Besides his family, Jim’s other passions were his animals. In addition to his dogs, Jim always owned a few horses and was an avid western style horseman. He enjoyed giving family and friends rides around the farm in horse-drawn wagons and sleighs, on snowmobiles, four-wheelers and in one of his many old jeeps. He loved the fields and mountains surrounding his home with a deep passion and enjoyed sharing them with others.
Jim met his wife Jacqueline (O’Brien) Galusha in 2008. After a summer romance, the story has it that by that fall, Jim had flown to Paris, where she lived, to bring her back home to Williamstown with him. They were married in 2012.
Jim will be remembered driving through town in his truck, with a favorite dog riding shotgun, to meet up with friends and clients, many who were both.
Along with his wife, Jacqueline, Jim leaves a daughter, Sarah Galusha and her husband, Matthew Chinman, of Pittsburgh, PA; his son, Jay Galusha, and partner, Lori Spencer, and two brothers, John Galusha and partner, Jamie Bairstow, and Bill Galusha and wife, Kelly Galusha, all of Williamstown; five grandchildren, Lauren, James and Cassie Galusha and Luke and Nate Chinman; three great grandchildren, Oakleigh Roberts and Paisley and Lainey Howes, and nieces, nephews, countless cousins and others who loved him as a brother, father and grandfather.
A memorial service celebrating Jim’s life will take place Monday March 20, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Thompson Memorial Chapel on the campus of Williams College.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to The Trustees of Reservations through the Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.