James Morey Fitzgibbons, widely known as Jim, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Grand Oaks Senior Living in Washington DC. He was born on September 27, 1934 in Boston, Mass., the son of Harold and Angeline (Spence) Fitzgibbons. Jim grew up in the towns of Whitman and Duxbury on Massachusetts' South Shore.  He attended Milton Academy (Class of 1952) and graduated from Harvard (Class of 1956) with a B.A. in Fine Arts. He served as an officer in the Navy for two years, during which time he earned his pilot's license. He toured Florida and the southeast by plane in his free time, and through much of his career he continued to fly his Beechcraft Bonanza to visit customers, tanneries and mills.

After the navy Jim returned to Whitman to join the leather business at the family firm, E.P. Fitzgibbons.  He completed further executive education in the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School in 1963.

In 1968 E.P. Fitzgibbons was sold to Howes Leather, which Jim joined as Executive Vice President.  In 1970 he was part of a management team that purchased Howes from New York University, and in 1975 he became President of Howes. From his home on Beacon Hill, he rode his bicycle to his office until he moved his family to Brookline. Jim served for a time as President of the Tanners Council of America, the industry trade association.  In 1986 he left Howes to join Amoskeag Company as Chief Operating Officer, eventually becoming Chairman and CEO of Fieldcrest Cannon, which was majority owned by Amoskeag, in 1990.  He left Fieldcrest in 1998 upon its acquisition.  Jim also served as President of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute.

Throughout his career, Jim served as director of a number of manufacturing, financial, industrial and energy companies, including Fiduciary Trust, Lumber Mutual, Barrett Resources, BNY Mellon Investment Funds, and Brookline Bank.  He was a member of the board of the Peabody Foundation, chairman of the board of trustees of Milton Academy, and served as President of the Harvard Club of Boston from 1971 to 1974.

In recent decades, Jim devoted his time and energy to Steps to Success, a college and career program for students from low-income families in Brookline. In 2018 the Jim Fund was established to support summer programs that taught lessons in social entrepreneurship and financial literacy. 

While Jim’s business and community endeavors were extensive, he always found time for family and adventure. Summers included sailing cruises along the coast of Massachusetts as well as weeks in Duxbury playing tennis and golf. When his children were old enough, he took everyone on a 5 week adventure in a motor home from New Hampshire to the Rocky Mountains - it was his dream vacation. In the winters, he loved hot toddies after a day of skiing, and graciously accepted his minority status among the Dartmouth crowd in Lyme, New Hampshire. Eventually, he packed his skis with Janet and spent winter vacations skiing in Vail, Colorado. In his spare time, he read biographies and historical fiction, and worked on jigsaw puzzles. As a grandfather, Jim warmed the stands at athletic events, spent hours in his basement “shop” in Brookline building wooden trains, and was often surrounded by his grandchildren of all ages as he told stories. He was a beacon, and he was in everyone’s corner.

Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janet Bowler Fitzgibbons; his four children, Susan (Mike Timpano) of San Jose, CA, John (Christine) Fitzgibbons of Bronxville, NY, Peter (Shimae) Fitzgibbons of Washington, DC, and Michael (Lindsey) Fitzgibbons of San Francisco, and his eleven grandchildren.  Jim was predeceased by his siblings Ned, Ann and Harry. He will be buried in a private service in Duxbury, Mass, and a celebration of his life will be held later this year in Boston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Steps to Success (https://www.stepstosuccessbrookline.org). For online condolences please go to www.shepherdfuneralhome.com

A Funeral Mass will be held for Mr. Fitzgibbons on Saturday, February 8th, at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Church, 601 Tremont St, Duxbury, MA. A graveside service will immediately follow at the Mayflower cemetery in Duxbury.