James Stephen Harrington

James “Jim” Stephen Harrington passed away unexpectedly at age 64 on May 29, 2024. Jim is survived by his wife of 35 years, Pam, his children Kevin and Natalie, his brothers Gerard and Peter, and many more who loved him dearly.

Jim was a proud, lifelong Bostonian. He was born and raised in Roslindale, the son of Peter and Helen, and attended Boston Latin School, where he won the prestigious Benjamin Franklin medal. A history buff who could spend hours buried in books, he went on to Harvard College, graduating with honors in the subject in 1981. He earned his J.D. with honors from Boston College Law School in 1984. Shortly thereafter, he met his wife Pam at a tennis class. The two married in 1989, started a family, and settled in the Boston area for good.

Jim had a distinguished legal career that spanned 40 years. He was a giant in the insurance industry and a longtime partner at the law firm Robins Kaplan, where he made many friends and practiced for more than 30 years until 2018. Over the past six years, Jim excelled as an executive in the risk consulting group at Aon and had started making plans for retirement.

Throughout his career as a lawyer, Jim won many important cases, awards, and honors. He was particularly proud of his admission to the United States Supreme Court Bar, where he was sworn in before his family at a ceremony in 2002. But his biggest impact was through the example that he set for others. Friends and colleagues describe admiring him not only for his talents, but for his uncommon kindness, honesty, and integrity.

Jim lived his life with purpose and knew what mattered most to him. His greatest source of joy and accomplishment was far and away his family. Jim loved his wife and kids endlessly, and they were everything to him. His home and office were lined with photo albums and mementos that he meticulously collected over the years from some of his favorite memories: family vacations and trips around the world with Pam, sporting events with friends and family, fishing trips across New England and beyond, and standout meals at restaurants. Jim displayed prominently a picture of a Red Sox World Series game that he attended with Kevin, and a note from Natalie calling him the “best dad a girl could ask for.”

Jim’s defining character trait was that he always put others first, going to great lengths to make the lives of those around him happier and easier. Family and friends remember Jim as the person that they could go to for anything. He had a knack for providing just the right mix of advice, wisdom, support, and good humor that made you feel like everything was going to be okay.

Jim was in good health up until his passing and will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and colleagues who are all better for having known him.

Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., Natick.  A funeral will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at St. Patrick’s Church, 44 E Central St, Natick. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice in memory of Jim.

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