Jim did go gently into that good night in the dark and early hours of September 12 with his loving wife, Terry, at his side holding his hand. Mourning this wonderful man are Terry Boyle, his beloved daughters, Leslie, Kristin, and Erin, his sisters Jayne and Jackie, his sisters and brothers-in-law, Mike and Andrea, Brian and Margaret, and Marlene and Dayle, his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, former wife, Marilyn MacLennan Lawlor, and many friends.

Born in Timmins on April 8, 1940 to parents Clyde and Theresa Lawlor, Jim spent his childhood in Sudbury, before moving with his family to Kingston at the age of 12. Jim attended Royal Military College, graduating as a civil engineer and posted as a Flight Lieutenant to the air base at Clinton. After more than three years in the military, Jim pursued a career in education and became a math teacher, guidance counsellor, and vice-principal in several Kingston secondary schools. In 1985, he moved to Mississauga and assumed the role of vice-principal in several Peel schools. He was also committed to the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation taking on leadership roles throughout his career. Two years prior to retirement in 1995 Jim was Vice-President of then District 10, OSSTF.

While Jim and Terry met at an OSSTF summer workshop in Sudbury in 1975, it wasn’t until 1985 that they were able to be together in Mississauga. They married in 1991 and enjoyed a life full of theatre in Toronto and especially in Stratford, Kingston visits with his daughters, cottage time with family, dinner parties with friends, and, in retirement, travels to Europe, the Caribbean, New Zealand, China and Viet Nam. A river cruise along the Danube in 2019 was their last trip together.

Jim was an intelligent, incisive, analytical, honest and loyal man with a strong moral compass. He was also gracious, gentle, compassionate, funny, witty, kind and humble. He loved big band music, jazz, musical theatre, military history, movies, and the family cats. Sadly, his joy in life was afflicted by Alzheimer’s, a very cruel disease that ultimately took him from us. After a spell in the hospital, Jim moved to Sunrise of Erin Mills for palliative care, for a very short time. He received excellent care at Credit Valley Hospital from all staff and warm and tender care in his final days at Sunrise.

Friends may call at the Turner & Porter "Peel" Chapel, 2180 Hurontario St., Mississauga (Hwy 10 N. of Q.E.W) on Sunday, September 17, 2023 from 2-6 pm and on Monday, September 18, 2023 from 12-1 pm. A Service of Remembrance will be held in the Chapel on Monday, September 18, 2023 at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Healing Cycle or The Alzheimer Society of Peel.

Online condolences may be made through this website.