James J. Bedford, Jr.
Massachusetts State Trooper
TEWKSBURY: James J. Bedford, Jr., age 60, a resident of Tewksbury for 27 years, formerly of Peabody, passed away the Lowell General Hospital-Saints Campus unexpectedly on Sunday, October 27, 2013 from an aortic aneurysm.
He was the beloved husband of 24 years to Carol A. (Smith) (Costa) Bedford.
Born in Beverly on June 17, 1953, he was the son of the late James J. Bedford, Sr. and the late Maureen A. (Kane) (Bedford) Ciampa.
Jim was raised in Peabody, attended Peabody schools and graduated from Peabody High School in 1972.
After graduating from the Metropolitan Police Academy in 1983, he began his career in law enforcement. While he was with the Metropolitan Police, he served as a member of the S.W.A.T. Team and as a Field Training Officer.
Jim was currently serving with the Massachusetts State Police, Troop F, at Logan International Airport in Boston, where he has worked for the past 8 years.
On a personal level, Jim enjoyed reading, music and playing the guitar, following the New England sports teams, caring for his dogs, traveling with his wife Carol and their friends to Aruba and above all, spending time with his beloved grandchildren, who he adored.
In addition to his wife, Jim is survived by five children, Kerri J. Costa of Billerica, Steven W. Costa of Mesa, AZ, Kelli J. Costa of Lowell, William M. Costa of Truro, and James J. Bedford, III of New Hampshire; three grandchildren, Alexandra and Daniel Barrasso of Billerica, and Devin Costa of Tewksbury; his brother, Kevin Ciampa of Saugus; his sister, Lianne Ciampa of Saugus; his aunt and uncle, Pauline "Poppy" Lee and Scott Lee of Peabody; his mother-in-law, Alverna Smith of Billerica; his sister-in-law, Diane Grasso of Billerica; three nieces, Renee Danton and her husband Frank of Hudson, NH, Jennifer Grasso of Sterling and Anjole Ciampa of Salem; one nephew, Jay Fasano of Saugus; also his best friend, Peter Robdau and his wife Chickie.
Calling hours will be Friday, Nov. 1, from 4-8 p.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. His funeral will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, at 9 30 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by his Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. William's Church 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Services will conclude in the Chapel at St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations in Jim's memory be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, (www.stjude.org), 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.