Obituary of James H. Lloyd, III

 James H. Lloyd III, 79, of Glastonbury, CT, died on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, with his wife and children by his side. Always a thoughtful man he waited for the family to be complete and say their last good-bys before he died. Jim was born in Philadelphia on October 20,1943 to the late James H. and Margaret (Koons) Lloyd and began an adventurous life as an “Army Brat”.  His early life included numerous moves, 10 in all, before he went to boarding school at Peddie for his final 2 years of high school, graduating in 1961. The family followed his father’s military postings from Texas to Germany and points in between until they ultimately ended on Staten Island where his father, a World War II veteran tank commander, was placed in charge of all the Nike missile sites along the east coast. Jim’s 4 college years at Princeton University were the longest he had ever lived anywhere. He graduated with a degree in economics in 1965 and returned with his family over the years for reunions to this special home.  He continued on to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he not only earned an MBA but also went to a fateful party where he met UPenn graduate student Blakeslee Benjamin. They fell deeply in love and were married June 17, 1967 following their graduations.  Their married life began on Army posts because Jim was called up to serve and after a year of training, he received orders to Vietnam on April Fool’s Day 1968 where he served until June of 1969, being discharged as a 1^st Lieutenant. Jim’s military service had a profound effect upon him. He canceled his commitment to work at Scott Paper Company in Philadelphia because he wanted a career in which he could  make a positive change for his community.  First he tried his hand as a city planner for the Capitol Region Planning Agency in Hartford, CT, a decisive move which led to deep roots in Connecticut where he and Blakes lived for the next 53 years until his death.  Frustrated by watching months of planning end up in the drawer of a filing cabinet because of monetary or political causes, Jim decided to go back to school the next year at the University of Connecticut Law School where he became editor in chief of the law review.  Following graduation in 1973 he joined the law firm of Updike, Kelly, and Spellacy where he remained for his entire career of 37 years, a quarter century of them as managing partner.  In his firm bio he explained that he was drawn to the law because of its “unique blend of the intellectual and the practical with a particular emphasis on service.”  There he had the opportunity to work on projects that helped shape the state through his expertise in public finance, state bonding, and commercial real estate. He also served on the board of the University of Connecticut Health Center. After a childhood on the move, Jim moved with Blakes to Glastonbury in 1974 as they prepared for the arrival of their first child. Fifty years later he was still there. Both daughter Meredith and son Will are Glastonbury natives who attended school there from kindergarten to high school graduation. Here Jim served his community as Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, member of 2 Charter Revision Commissions, President of the Orchard Hill Swim and Tennis Club, and a deacon at the Congregational Church of South Glastonbury. Jim’s priority was always his family.  Family dinner and weekends with family were always sacrosanct.  His favorite hobbies, skiing in winter and boating in summer were family affairs. He and Blakes taught themselves to sail on Connecticut’s small lakes like Bolton and Coventry before venturing to Long Island Sound. When children came along they joined the crew, starting at toddler friendly sites like Nappatree then graduating to trips to Block Island and Newport. Crab nets and fishing poles were added to the gear on board and the kids learned to row the dinghy once we were anchored and they wanted to go ashore. When they became teens Jim shifted from sailboats to a small powerboat we could use for water skiing with their friends coming along. Eventually when they were grown, we brought the boat home to our Glastonbury marina so we could just do short trips on the river or sit on deck and watch the sunset. Jim was a man you could count on—to make good decisions and follow them with action, to remain calm no matter the crisis, to always see the positive side of life, to lighten the moment with a witty line, and to always make everyone feel valued and safe.  He was a true gentleman. He is survived by his wife and children, Meredith, husband Noah Rice and daughter Eleanor; William, wife Laura and their children Marlow and Jasper; his beloved brother John (Maureen), and his children Larson, Trevor and Dylan, cousin Edward Woltemate; sisters-in-law Barbara Davis (Jim); Mary Hope (Vince); brothers-in-law Tom Benjamin; John Benjamin (Tiffany); beloved nieces and nephews and cousins who have been important parts of his life. A Memorial Service will be celebrated on Friday, May 19 at noon at the Congregational Church of South Glastonbury, 949 Main St., South Glastonbury, CT.  Friends may call on Thursday, May 18 from 4pm to 6pm at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury, CT.  Memorial donations in Jim’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association CT Chapter, 200 Executive Blvd, Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489 or The Monks of New Skete, P.O. Box 128, Cambridge, NY 12816.  For onlinecondolences,visit www.mulryanfh.com