Newton Lower Falls — James J. Slattery, 81, died Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston following a long illness. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1935, Jim Slattery came to the Boston area to attend college. He attended MIT and eventually he earned a B.A. and an M.A. in History from Boston
University, an M.S in Library Science from Simmons College, and an Ed.D from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Jim and Carole have lived in Newton for 55 years, settling in Lower Falls in 1970. From 1962 to 1995, Jim wore many hats at Lesley College including Assistant to the President, Head of Campus Planning, and Director of the Library, as well as Professor of Social Sciences. He most enjoyed his time in the classroom creating engaging and entertaining methods to teach humanities and philosophy to undergraduates. In the years since his retirement, Jim continued to pursue an eclectic mix of activities. He wrote a novel, Perhaps She'll Die, a mystery set in a small town New England women's college. He traveled extensively with Carole, enjoying multiple trips to Britain as well as Greece, Italy, France, and other places. Together they logged many nautical miles aboard Cunard’s ocean liners. Each year they escaped the New England winter by visiting family in Hawaii. Most afternoons Jim could be found in his shop turning wood on a lathe. He was particularly interested in creating small intricate vessels, and the occasional magic wand. There is a Fence Art banner with one of his works currently hanging in Waban on the bridge over the T. More recently Jim had been hand-carving canes and walking sticks, which he employed with style. Jim served a term as president of the LFIA (Lower Falls Improvement Association) and was a longtime editor of the Lowdown, their Newsletter. He was active in the Newton Art Association and was a member the American Association of Woodturners as well as cutthroat scrabble player. He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Carole Slattery, a retired Newton elementary school librarian; son Sean Slattery and his wife Melinda Hobausz; daughter Shannon Slattery and her husband Jerome Grafe; and grandchildren Natalia, Owen, Fin, and Tegan. Visiting hours will be held on October 23, 2016, from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. at Burke Funeral Home, 56 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills, MA. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of James J. Slattery to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift.