ISLESBORO — James Edward Hayden, Sr., of Islesboro, died on December 27, 2020 as a result of heart failure. 

Born in Rumford on August 31, 1946, he only son of the late Frederick G. Hayden and the late Althea (Brown) Hayden. 

James graduated in the class of 1964 from Mexico High School and from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine in 1968 with a degree in Marine Engineering.  He was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve and held that commission until 1982 promoting regularly to LT-CDR reserve 1105 Line Officer.

James held a U.S. Coast Guard license in the U.S Merchant Marine for Chief Engineer, Steam, Motor and Gas Turbine, unlimited horsepower.  He served as a Merchant Marine over 50 years working world-wide with the Atlantic Richfield Company, ARCO Marine and with numerous American Maritime Officer, AMO Union contracted companies and the occasional tramp or oceanographic research trip.  He retired after having the trememdous pleasure of teaching future Chief Engineers at the STAR Center in Dania Beach, Florida.

James travelled to all the continents and well over 100 countries in his lifetime. 

Surviving is his wife of 49 years, Elizabeth “Impy” Hayden, of Islesboro; his son, Dr.  James E. (Jessica) Hayden, Jr., of Gainsville, Florida; his daughter, Dr Deborah A.(Ronan)  Cunningham, of Dublin and Carrickmacross, Ireland; one grandson, Naoise Ronan Cunningham, of Dublin and Carrickmacross, Ireland, as well as Islesboro; two sister, Barbara J. Brown of Maine and Priscilla Klekotka, of Texas.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Deep Springs College General Endowment Fund, www.deepsprings.edu, the Wellesley College Scholarship Fund, www.wellesley.edu, or to any Midcoast or western Maine animal shelter.  He was very fond of his tribe of rescued cats for, as Jim often claimed, “They never killed anything that didn’t have it coming.”

In keeping with his wishes, there will be no public services.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.  Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.