Tyrrell, James Richard, Sr. of Wellesley, MA and Sudbury, MA passed away the morning of May 8, 2024. Jim was the beloved husband of Laura Duffey Tyrrell for nearly 35 years, devoted and cherished father of James Richard Tyrrell, Jr. and his fiancée Ambrey Rice of Boston, Alexandra Tyrrell Shaw and her husband Ian of Watertown, and Kerry Anne Tyrrell and her fiancé Keshav Ahuja of Boston. Brother to Joseph P. Tyrrell and wife Kate of Sudbury, and Mary T. Coughlin and husband Chris of Wellesley; the late Ann Tyrrell Abely and the late Patricia Tyrrell. Beloved son of the late Joseph and Mary Tyrrell. He was a proud uncle and friend, deeply loved by many.
Jim was born on October 11, 1958 in Boston, MA. He grew up in Wellesley in a large Irish Catholic family. Jim and Laura raised their children in Sudbury where he enjoyed taking care of his lawn and gardening so his kids could “run, jump, and play.” He always made coming home to Sudbury special for his family; cooking turkey dinners and hosting large barbecues by the fire pit. He deeply loved his dog, Bailey, and granddog Calvin.
Jim attended St. Paul’s School in Wellesley, St. Sebastian’s School in Needham and Boston College, where he gained lifelong friends, and was known to be both studious and social.
He had a distinguished career in the commercial insurance industry, serving as a vice president and executive at Alexander & Alexander, Kaler Carney Liffler & Co., Knapp Schenck and NEIS. His past and current colleagues have shared the impact Jim had as a quiet and respected leader, mentor and friend.
Growing up, Jim spent his summers with family in Osterville, MA on Cape Cod, and later on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Jim loved sunset cruises with his family on the lake. He was a passionate golfer and life-long member of Weston Golf Club. He inherited the love of golf from his father and passed it on to his son, Jimmy. While always humble, Jim was a four-time Club Champion at Weston GC and competed in many Massachusetts Amateur events throughout his life, including his victory in the annual Boston Globe/MGA Tournament of Club Champions in 1999. He was most proud of winning the Weston GC Father & Son Tournament with his father in 1985, and again with Jimmy in 2017.
His natural disposition was calm, caring, and patient. He was known for his quick wit, pitch perfect one-liners and dry sense of humor. He will be forever missed and always loved.
Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington Street (Route 16), Wellesley on Monday, May 13th from 4-7 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Paul Church, Wellesley, MA on Tuesday, May 14 at 11 am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.