It is with broken hearts and great sadness that the family of Jim Gladue announce his passing from young-onset Alzheimer's on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the age of 63. He was surrounded by his wife and children when he left their loving arms and reunited with his Mother. He was the son of Edward Gladue and the late Eileen Gladue of Ledyard.
Jim was a good and kind man. He was a wonderful husband and loving father, who worked hard to provide for his family. In his younger days, he was a jack-of-all-trades, painting houses, riding the back of a garbage truck, and working at Thermos, before making a final stop at being a mail carrier for the Norwich Post Office. There he spent 33+ years going out in every kind of weather, delivering every shape of package, and copious pieces of mail. He was the best neighborhood mail carrier. The people that Jim delivered to took such good care of him. Cold drinks in the summer to hot cocoa in the winter. Tomato plants, barbecue ribs, coffee, little trinkets, notes, you name it, they gave it to him. Jim kept a close eye on his elderly customers and took the time to chat with them. He also made very good friends while working at the post office. Even after the onset of his disease, they stuck by his side, consistently traveling up to see him, taking him out for a walk, coffee, or a pastry. Theirs was a true and loyal friendship.
Jim loved his sports! He would tell you about his glorious high school wrestling days, which never left his memory. He loved playing in the softball league with his friends. He was a great slow pitch pitcher and was lightning fast running around the bases. Sports, oh boy, could Jim talk sports. He knew something about every possible sport. He loved his monthly poker games with his postal buddies. He was just as good at poker as he was at sports.
In his free time, Jim enjoyed traveling to Saratoga with Lise and Rob for the horse-racing, trips to Las Vegas, fishing, golfing, gardening, biking, playing ping pong, cooking, and barbecuing, but most of all being with his family. Jim was so proud of his yard. At his home in Griswold, if you heard a leaf blower running in the dark, it was Jim, making sure every leaf was out of his yard! Jim kept an orderly vegetable garden and loved getting that old rototiller revved up to till the dirt. Every year he had the best garden. Every year, more and more rocks in that garden! The only thing better than his garden was playing a round of golf on his 9 hole course in his yard and then jumping in his pristine pool.
Jim was married to the love of his life for 900 years, Ann Gladue. He was 17 and she was 14 when they met and they wed 3 years later on August 9, 1980. He leaves behind three amazing kids. Jim was so proud of his children, Jennifer (Gladue) Koji and David of Colchester, Lindsey (Gladue) Small and Kareem of Bristol, James Gladue and Sierra of Aubrey, Texas. His brightest pride and joy were his grandchildren, Mason, Lily, Zoey, Brooklyn, Kylar, Karter, Rowan, Braylon and Adaline. They always made him smile.
He also leaves behind Catherine Gladue, siblings Edward Gladue (Betti), Tammy (Gladue) Knowles (Keith), and David Gladue (Jean). Jim leaves behind an in-law family that he lovingly endured that consisted of four sisters-in-law, Lucy Davidson (Peter), Susan Lajzer (Ken), Carol Falvey, Lise Perody (Robert). He also leaves behind endless nieces and nephews. They all loved Jim so much.
We will remember Jim the way he was before young-onset Alzheimer’s consumed him. A great defender of his loved ones, a man who showed empathy and chivalry, even in the throes of this horrible disease.
We give thanks to all the special people the family has met along this journey, especially the folks at LiveWell, Pansy Homecare Service, his caregiver Tomone, everyone at Hartford Healthcare Hospice, and the many folks who we have never met, but who have reached out in kindness to brighten our days.
We give immeasurable thanks to his sister-in-law, Lise Perody and her husband Robert Koury, who with their unconditional love and support helped Jim and our family get through this horrible disease. His canine companion, Olive will always hold a special place in Jim’s heart.
The family asks that you please refrain from sending flowers and instead that you take a moment to breathe and think of a fun memory of Jim. Jim would like that.
Visitation will be Tuesday (December 14) at Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT from 3:00-5:00 pm. A memorial service will follow for a final farewell for this wonderful man. Masks are mandatory. Colorful attire is requested. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com