Obituary for James M. Hoverman (contact: Ginny Hoverman, 802-388-7704)

James Marshall Hoverman, age 74, died on August 16, 2021.

Jim, as he was known to family and friends, was an outdoor enthusiast; he liked nothing better than hiking a mountain or walking in the woods. Jim helped maintain trails for the Trail around Middlebury (Vermont), the Hopkinton Area Land Trust (MA), and Ivy Creek Natural Area (VA).

Jim was a poet; he wrote dozens of poems and especially enjoyed the structure of the haiku.  He was often inspired to write poems while hiking, listening to birds, and enjoying the outdoors. Jim’s haikus reflect the amazement, amusement, beauty, and love he found living in this world.

Jim was born on June 21, 1947 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Russell and Mary Jean (Mahan) Hoverman. The family moved to Seaford, NY, when Jim was three. At Seaford High School, Jim was President of his class for 3 years and was on the football, wrestling, and track teams. Jim graduated from Seaford HS in 1965. He went on to Middlebury College, where he was a member of Delta Upsilon and played football. After graduating from Middlebury in 1969 with a BA in English, Jim married Jacki Scott and they had two sons: Alec born in 1975 and Kevin in 1978.

The family lived in Whitefield, NH, where Jim taught high school English for 17 years. During that time, Jim founded the White Mountains Regional High School wrestling team, who went on to win the NH State Championship in 1980, ’81, ’82, and ’83. In 1982, his team took second in the New England wrestling championships, a mighty feat for a small school in northern NH as they were competing against much larger high schools. Jim was proud to be inducted into the NH Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame and the New England Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.

From 1987 to 2000, Jim worked in sales for P.J. Noyes in Lancaster, NH. He enjoyed visiting customers and learning about their needs before he recommended how Noyes might help by incorporating their products and manufacturing processes.

Jim married Virginia (Ginny) Mead in 1998 and they settled in Lancaster, NH. Strong believers in not contributing to animal suffering, they organized several marches and protests for Animal Rights and promoted the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. In 1996, he and Ginny launched a small vegan food business with Jim as primary salesperson.

In 2002, Jim and Ginny moved to Middlebury, VT where Jim worked as night manager for VT Sun Fitness. As a certified health coach, Jim worked with people who had health challenges as well as those who wanted to enhance their fitness. In 2017, he and Ginny moved to Charlottesville, VA (after a two year stop in Ashland, MA) where Jim helped clear trails in Ivy Creek Natural Area and they frequently hiked the Shenandoah Valley together.

Jim was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in July 2020, after which he underwent surgery and chemotherapy for 13 months before succumbing to the disease. Jim’s legacy includes his son Alec, Alec’s wife Meri, and their daughter Tessa, and son Kevin, Kevin’s wife Ellen and their children James, Avery, and Mia. He was proud of his family for their accomplishments and even more for the caring individuals they are. Jim leaves his brother Russ and Russ’ wife Belle and their children Daniel, Craig, and Claire and his brother Steve, Steve’s wife Nancy and their children Dave, Carrie, Mike, and Matt. Jim also leaves his wife Ginny, Ginny’s daughter Heather, her husband Phil, and children Elizabeth and Alex as well as her son Christopher, wife Katie, and children Molly, Carter, and Fiona.

Jim loved and was much loved by his wife, sons, brothers, nieces, nephews, and their children.

Donations to honor Jim will be appreciated at Ivy Creek Natural Area, 1776 Earlysville Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22901 (www.ivycreekfoundation.org) the Hopkinton Area Land Trust, Box 56, Woodville, MA 01784. (www.hopkintonarealandtrust.org) and Middlebury College (VT).