James J. Skeffington, Sr., 73, of Barrington, RI, a legendary figure in the legal community and an advisor to Rhode Island’s business leaders and government officials for nearly 50 years, died unexpectedly while jogging near his home on Sunday, May 17, 2015.

Jim was an enormously engaging and nurturing man who excelled as an attorney, educator, coach, leader and visionary. Although he enjoyed a lifetime of extraordinary professional and personal achievements, Jim counted his time with his wife, children, grandchildren and friends as his life’s most treasured gift. He loved life completely and he lived it intensely.

James J. Skeffington was born in Providence, RI on April 29, 1942, a son of the late John M. and Evelyn (Walsh) Skeffington. He was raised in a loving Irish Catholic family in the Smith Hill section of Providence attending the St. Augustine School and LaSalle Academy. Jim was a member of Boston College’s Class of 1964 and graduated Cum Laude. At Boston College, Jim was a member of the National Academic Honor Society and earned numerous academic excellence awards including Boston College’s prestigious Ever to Excel Award for “Outstanding Achievement Over Four Years.” In 1967, Jim graduated from Georgetown University Law Center and, soon thereafter, was privileged to serve as the first law clerk to the late Justice Thomas F. Kelleher of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Jim lived most of his life in Barrington, RI and Narragansett, RI. He enjoyed watching his children grow up to be adults and parents. He took great pleasure in coaching his children and their friends’ baseball and softball teams. As a coach, Jim inspired his players with memorable speeches and instilled in them many important life lessons. Equally notable, Jim was an especially gifted storyteller with a unique sense of humor. He took a special interest in meeting new people along life’s journey and he connected in a deeply personal way with all those he had the pleasure to meet and call a friend.

Jim was a passionate lover of sports. He was a stand-out basketball and baseball player at LaSalle Academy and played basketball through his freshman year at Boston College. He also enjoyed countless golf games with family and friends at Rhode Island Country Club (Barrington) and Point Judith Country Club (Narragansett). In addition to his memberships there, he was also a member of the Dunes Club (Narragansett) and University Club (Providence).

Jim was a leading partner of the law firm Locke Lord LLP, one of the nation’s foremost law firms. Jim made extraordinary contributions to the state of Rhode Island. Throughout his career in law and business, he played a vital leadership role in virtually every major government or private business development in Rhode Island, often behind the scene and without fanfare. At one time or another, he created or guided most of the State’s quasi-public authorities, which were specifically chartered to promote the public welfare and improve the economic climate of the State. The list of those authorities suggest the extent of Jim’s impact on the State: The Port Authority and Economic Development Corporation, the Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, the Health and Educational Building Corporation, the Student Loan Authority, the Industrial Facilities Corporation, the Industrial-Recreational Building Authority, the Solid Waste Management Corporation, the Public Building Authority, the Providence Public Parking Authority and the Convention Center.

There was hardly a major economic development project in Rhode Island over the past 50 years that was not influenced or enhanced by Jim’s leadership and vision. Jim was involved in the following projects: the entry of General Dynamics and Fidelity into Rhode Island, the relocation and expansion of Woman and Infant’s Hospital, Roger Williams University and Bryant University moves to new campuses in Rhode Island, the development of the Convention Center, the Westin Hotel and the Providence Place Mall which together forever changed the commercial fabric and skyline of Providence, the retention and expansion in Rhode Island of the corporate headquarters of CVS Health and GTECH, the parking improvements at T.F. Green Airport, and the development of Laurelmead, the premier retirement community and assisted living facility on the East Side of Providence. Most recently, Jim successfully led a group of investors in the purchase of the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Triple A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and proudly served as a principal owner and President of the team. The common thread of leadership that runs through these watershed events was Jim’s guiding hand and far ranging vision.

Jim was blessed with extraordinary talents which he used to serve the community he loved. Yet, despite the demands of a busy law practice, he made the time to serve on the Boards of some of Rhode Island’s most important educational and charitable institutions. And, he made it part of his life to reach out to individuals enduring difficult times in everyday life. He quietly came to the aid of many, asking nothing in return. Jim’s leadership and philanthropic efforts benefited many worthy causes. He was a founding member of the Coalition for Community Development; the creator of the Ocean State Charity Trust; Chairman Emeritus of the John E. Fogarty Foundation for the Mentally Retarded; a former member of the Board of Visitors of Georgetown University Law Center; a trustee of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable; and a trustee of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. In addition to his generous support of the American Heart Association (which honored him in 2009 with the Rhode Island American Heart Association Gold Heart Award), Jim’s charitable efforts included his alma maters, LaSalle Academy, Boston College and Georgetown University, as well as the Department of Pediatric Cardiology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Rhode Island Catholic Charities. He was honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and the American College of Bond Counsel. He was also privileged to serves as a Trustee of Bryant University, Providence College, and the Providence Performing Arts Center. He was a former Trustee of both Woman’s and Infants Hospital and Butler Hospital.

The essence of Jim’s life was a strong devotion to his faith, to his family, and to his friends. He was a long time member of St. Luke’s Parish in Barrington where he attended daily morning mass.

His legacy will be the faith and work ethic he endeavored to inspire in his children and grandchildren.

Jim is survived by Barbara J. Skeffington and their two children; son, James J. Skeffington Jr. of Boston, MA and Erinn E. Murray of Westfield, NJ and their spouses Renee H. Skeffington and Brendan R. Murray, respectively; brother, John M. Skeffington, Jr. of Providence, RI; sister, Jane A. Skeffington of Providence, RI; nephew, John M. Skeffington III of Lincoln, RI; nephew, Robert B. Skeffington of North Providence, RI; nephew, Peter J. Skeffington of Providence; RI; and his seven cherished grandchildren, Nicole G. Murray, Maggie S. Murray, William M. Murray, Ryan M. Murray, James T. Skeffington, Claire A. Skeffington and Katherine L. Skeffington.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, 30 Fenner Street, Providence, RI. Interment will follow in Forest Chapel Cemetery, Barrington. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Friday, May 22nd from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Jim’s memory may be made to the Children’s Hospital Boston Trust, c/o Department of Cardiology, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215.

Click Here To View Condolence Messages

J F Skeffington Funeral Home
925 Chalkstone Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
401-331-3900