| About |
He was born in Saskatchewan, Canada. He served in Italy with the 34th Infantry Division. James was awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other citations. After the war, he returned to the states, finished high school and then attended Maine Central Institute. Upon completion of MCI, James attended Springfield College and graduated with both his bachelor's and master's degrees in education. He first taught in Dexter, where he also coached three sports. In 1956, James began working for Thornton Academy. At Thornton, he was a teacher, head baseball coach, assistant football and head basketball coach. He coached basketball for more than 15 years from 1956 until 1970. At a school with a reputation for football, he was instrumental in putting basketball on the map. Five of his first six years, they made the playoffs and nine out of the next 13. He also served as athletic director, head of Building and Grounds, and submaster, retiring in 1983. He was honored in the second class of Thornton Academy Athletic Hall of Fame and was inducted in October 2007. James enjoyed golf and was a member of Dexter Municipal Golf Course and Biddeford Saco Country Club. In retirement, he and his wife wintered in Florida where he was recently made a member of the Hall of Fame of Indian River Shuffleboard League. Summers were spent in Dexter on Lake Wassookeag. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Marilyn Cross McGaffin; a son, Donald McGaffin; three daughters, Nancy Bolduc, Susan Graham and Kathleen Martin; two brothers, William and David; two sisters, Sarah Stanton and Bonnie Baker; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by his parents, James Renwick and Nellie Matthews McGaffin |
