St. Mary’s Abbey Ballinasmale, Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland.
James F. Waldron, Haverhill first strong mayor under the city’s current form of government, was laid to rest at St. Mary’s Abbey Ballinasmale, Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland in September.
Waldron, 85, of Haverhill, passed away Friday, April 18.
He was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts in 1928 to the late James T. Waldron and Helen (Fleming) Waldron. He was a graduate of St. John’s Prep in Danvers. Jim was a Double Eagle of Boston College, with both an undergraduate and Law Degree. Jim served his country during the Korean War Era.
He was mayor of Haverhill from 1968 to 1971, when he was elected as the first “real mayor” under the current form of city government. His tenure as mayor and his successful law career brought about important changes to Haverhill by modernizing the downtown area, as well as adding businesses that brought revenue to the city. He was the go to guy if you wanted something done in Haverhill. In 2013, he was named Haverhill’s Irishman of the Year. One of Waldron’s favorite times of the year was the annual family reunion weekend on Cape Cod, where he was the founder and lifetime President of the Lemmings Swimming Association.
Jim is survived by his wife of 36 years, Diane (Doran) Waldron, his sister, Helen Flynn, his daughters, Virginia Waldron, Maureen Mount, Patricia Johnson and Mary Jane Stevens, his grandchildren, Jennifer, Robert, Jeremy, Katie, Philip, Andrew, Laura, Kevin and Timothy and his great-grandchildren, Lily, Collin, Sophia and Addison. He is also survived by his nephew, John Patrick Flynn, and sons-in-law, Chip Mount, Mark Johnson and Michael Stevens. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary T. Waldron.
