Obituary of James Collins

James P. Collins, 53, of South Glastonbury, died Saturday, March 9, 2013 at Yale New Haven Hospital, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply. Jim was born November 29, 1959 in Waterbury, the son of John J. and Beverly (Callahan) Collins of Bradenton, FL. He lived in Cheshire and Southington for most of his life, moving to South Glastonbury recently. Jim was a graduate of Cheshire Academy and Quinnipiac University, where he played baseball, and was inducted into the Cheshire Academy Hall of Fame in 1997 for excellence in baseball, basketball and football. Jim's greatest loves in life were his family, boating and athletic competitions; he was a diehard Yankees and Giants fan and a coach and enthusiastic fan of his children's teams as they were growing up. Jim battled his cancer with grace and dignity—and a smile. Besides his parents, he is survived by his girlfriend Ann Lee Cahill of South Glastonbury, his three children and their spouses, James Jr. and Natalie Collins of Bristol, Matthew and Jaimie Collins of Southington, Katie and Blake Eddins of Colchester, five siblings and their families, John and Carol Collins Jr. of NY, Tom and Kara Collins of GA, Gregory and Sharon Collins of VA, Beverly DeMayo of SC and Kim and Bob Field of MA. A memorial service will be celebrated on Thursday March 14th at 11 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 2584 Main Street, Glastonbury. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave, Glastonbury, on Wednesday, March 13th from 5-8 p.m. Memorial donations can be made to A Closer to Free fund, Smilow Cancer Hospital, Yale-New Haven Hospital at www.giveclosertofree.org/help. For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.