Brunswick – James Stewart Chard – Musician, song writer, lobsterman, upholsterer, veteran, proud grandfather and great friend to many.
James Stewart Chard, 73, of Brunswick, Maine, died peacefully on Jan 15, 2019 at Mid-Coast hospital due to complications of ALS. He was born on July 17, 1945 in New York City and was the son of Alfred C. Chard and Margaret Brewster Chard. He attended Brunswick schools and was a graduate of Good Will-Hinckley School in Fairfield Maine in 1963.
He enlisted into the Air Force out of high school from Nov 1963 until Aug 1969 as a parachute rigger and served in Vietnam and then went into the US Coast Guard until 1984 as a Boatswain’s mate in Search and Rescue throughout New England. He was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard in 1984.
Jim was an accomplished blue grass musician and in 2014, won the National Comedy Song of the Year for “The Ballad of Grandpa and the Turkeys” aka “The Turkey turd song”.
In 1989, Jim founded the Windy Ridge Band and traveled around the New England area playing at numerous bluegrass festivals, parades, benefits and open mics.
The Windy Ridge band competed for the Maine Veterans Arts Festival and received 1st place in 2013 through 2016, and then again in 2018. The band went on to compete at the Veterans National Showcase in 2013-16 and 2018. He was elected president of the Bluegrass Association of Maine 1997 to 2000 and also served as a board member over the years. Jim’s band members also include “Mama” Beth Revels, Frank “Woody” Woodard and Stevie Davis.
Jim loved spending time with his grandchildren and in his gardens, often times combining the two. His grandchildren will miss “Pop” dearly.
He is survived by his wife Julie Hodgdon Chard of Brunswick Maine, his son Samuel S. Chard and wife Renee of Topsham, Maine, his daughter Mi Chard-Cunion and husband Charlie Cunion of Basking Ridge New Jersey, son Thomas J. Chard and husband Thomas O. Mathis of Benton Arkansas, step-daughter Tristan Tanner and husband Christopher Tourre of Chicago Illinois, and his sister Carol E. Hargett of Auberry, California. Grandchildren Quentin and Brewster Chard, Kira and Brody Chard-Cunion, Nellie Tourre and extended family John Forestell, Keely Forestell and Neela Forestell.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 23rd at the Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to ALS Association which raises money for research and patient services would be appreciated.
Jimmy’s family would like to extend an enormous thank you to the Staff at Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick, particularly the amazing ICU Staff, who were extremely caring and comforting to both Jimmy and the family in his final days.
A celebration of his life will be held this summer on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at the 24th annual picking party. Condolences can be expressed to the family at www.brackettfuneralhome.com
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