James Delos Welch

James Delos Welch of Westbrook, Maine passed away on October 4, 2017 after a short illness. Jim was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 12, 1930. Dad had a very interesting life. He attended Marquette University High School and graduated in 1948. He joined the US Air Force and was sent to Syracuse University to be educated in the Russian language. He was very good at baseball and while playing at Syracuse, the Brooklyn Dodgers tried to get him into spring training with the team, but the Air Force would not let him go. He was told many times by native Russians that his diction was superb and no one could tell that he himself was not born in Russia. This skill came in to play while in the Air Force and stationed in Korea. He was listening to the Russian Air Force pilots and discovered that the pilots were refueling aircrafts in flight, which our government did not know that they had that technology. After leaving the Air Force, he attended Georgetown University in Washington DC and double majored in German and Russian language. He was active in civil rights in the 60's, including the March on Washington. Jim went on to teach Russian at Vassar and Tufts University. When he was younger, he would be mistaken as Steve McQueen. He got a kick out of that...! He met Shelagh Gregg in Washington D.C. in 1957, they were married and had five wonderful children. Margaret, Rebecca, Rachel, Jennifer and Joad. Shelagh passed away in 2013. The family moved to Maine in the early 70's. He worked at Maine Medical Center for 30 years in the OR and was known for his jokes and playful banter. He always had a great sense of humor, loved flowers, and art. He owned many paintings and was an artist himself in his youth. He would talk about politics in a extremely lively manner! I would be remiss if I did not mention how opposed he was to the current American political atmosphere. He hated violence and ignorance. He always loved to talk about world issues and kept himself informed on many different topics. I guess you could say he was opinionated !!! He is survived by his five children Jenny Cook and her husband Malcom Cook, Margaret Welch-McLoy and her husband Rick McLoy, Rachel Welch, Joad Welch and Rebecca Welch and her wife Sue Portengen, also his partner Theresa Petitpas of 12 years and his grandchildren Colin Welch-McLoy, Keegan Welch, Justice Welch, great granddaughter Guinevere. His grandchildren gave him the endearing nickname "Grumpus". He is also survived by his siblings Arlene, Patricia, Marsha and Michael Dad was a great man, had many fantastic stories and will be sorely missed by his loved ones. Services will be private and held at the convenience of the family.

James Delos Welch

October 12, 1930 - October 4, 2017

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