James F. Landers, Jr.

He enlisted in the Navy at 17 as a gunner’s mate & served on the USS Missouri. He earned his Associates in Science at night, while working a full-time job and raising a family. He was a printer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Later he became Photographer for the Office of the Governor where he has pictures of himself with everyone from Jane Fonda to the King and Queen of Jordan.He was a true Boston sports fan: Red Sox, Patriots & Celtics but no Bruins, he disliked hockey. I have many fond memories of lazy summer days with my Dad watching the Sox play and the silly rituals we had to keep them from losing.He was funny, he loved to laugh. He enjoyed playing cards, I learned how to play poker from him. He had a passion for crossword puzzles and trivia. He and my mother would watch Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights and dance to the big band music.He was a bit of a clotheshorse and was always impeccably groomed. He ironed his pajamas and had casual & formal slippers. And a week before he passed he made sure to get a haircut and beard trim.There was a private side he only shared with a few. He was a talented writer who wrote many captivating short stories some of which featured his young children. He also penned lovely prose. He was a gifted artist who drew beautiful portraits.It has been a week and the void left by you still grows. I am grateful for the all the time we spent together your last month, all the laughs, all the memories, all the hugs. He is now back with Mum.He was many things, to many people.To me, he was and always will be, my Daddy.