James Albert Bishop (1939-2022)

James (Jim) Albert Bishop of Denver, CO passed on April 30, 2022, at the age of 82, after a five-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease. First born child of Kenneth and Helen (Romanczyk) Bishop, his family lived in Middletown, CT when Jim was a boy. He was a familiar face around the neighborhood, whether shooting driveway hoops with his friends or delivering newspapers. Jim loved baseball and would go on to become the 1952 Moose Little League Most Valuable Player. Later, he attended Woodrow Wilson High School, where he was a batting champion on the 1955 WWHS Baseball Team that was inducted into the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame. Jim then graduated from Boston College, served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, and went on to a career as CPA. Following his time in the Air Force, he lived in Hawaii for twenty years, where he married his former spouse Joanne (Milliron), fathered his two sons, and became an avid sailor. Jim and his sailing partner Bob Johnson could regularly be found at the Hawaii Yacht Club celebrating their latest victorious race. After Hawaii, Jim lived near San Francisco for five years during which he and his family took many camping trips throughout Northern California and Oregon. Since 1991 though, he spent thirty years in Boulder, CO, where he loved the outdoor sports of fishing, biking, and hiking (especially in the Brainard Lake area of the Indian Peaks Wilderness)—and the indoor sport of billiards. He was a member of 9-ball division championship teams in 2008 and 2016 at the Outback Saloon. Jim was a kind and gracious host to his sons’ many friends over the years. Whenever they visited each other, Jim and his dad Ken enjoyed a tradition of playing cribbage—a tradition which then lived on between Jim and his sons.

Jim is predeceased by his parents, Ken and Helen. He was a great support to them as they aged. He is survived by his sons Jeffrey and Michael, Jeff’s wife Julie, and Jeff and Mike’s mom, Joanne Bishop. He often expressed his appreciation for how much help they gave him as he aged. Julie’s parents Bob and Bonnie Atherton were also always caring toward Jim. Since Mike’s recent return from Oahu, the family all reside in the Denver/Boulder area. Jim is also survived by his six siblings: Elaine Stowik of Middletown, CT, Christopher Bishop of Buckeye, AZ, Margaret Haight of Hardwick, MA, Gerard Bishop of East Haddam, CT, Teresa Brahen of St. Augustine, FL, and Dennis Bishop of Middletown, CT. He would also want to acknowledge lifelong friend Tony Solito of Middletown, CT whom Jim thought of as a brother and who enjoyed many a dinner around the family table. Jim also leaves many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews, for whom he was “the elder” uncle of the family. All of us will recall his quiet, gentle spirit. In his mature years, he appreciated getting to know all his siblings as adults and becoming a regular part of their thoughts and lives. Jim spoke softly, found great solace in nature, and soared with love for his children.

Jim’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, May 7 from 1-4 p.m. at the home of family friend Tom Matthews, 12231 Cherrywood Street, Broomfield, CO 80020. He will then be interred at the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, with Military Honors and a memorial service on May 13 at 1 p.m.