James A. McLaughlin

SCARBOROUGH – James A. McLaughlin, 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough. He will be missed dearly by all who knew him.

He was born in Boston, Mass. to John and Bertha McLaughlin and grew up in West Roxbury, Mass. James was a graduate of the Boston Latin High School and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He joined the Merchant Marines upon graduation and shortly thereafter was commissioned in the Navy where he served as a Chief Engineer on multiple destroyers.

James was a longtime resident of Scarborough. He retired honorably from military service as a Commander in 1986 after 26 years of combined active and reserve duty. While employed overseas he loved to travel around the world, often with his wife, Mary Ann.

He was a communicant of Saint Maximilan Kolbe parish in Scarborough and volunteered at the Portland Harbor Museum. He loved fishing and being on the water as much as spending time with friends and family.

James is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Ann (McCubbins) of Old Orchard Beach; daughter, Lee Ann of Gulfport, Miss., (Lance); son, Michael of Bethesda Md., (Rhonda) and children Ida, Everett, and Liam; son, Andrew of Scarborough (Suzanne) and children Fiona, Annika, and Stella; and Cara, Steven, Heidi, and Anna Shelton; sister, Louise Landen (Bill) of Westborough, Mass., and brothers Gene (Elaine) of Mount Pleasant S.C. and Tommy (Fran) of East Harwich Mass.

He was predeceased by his siblings Jack, Gerald, Michael, and Mary McSoley; and daughter, Deborah Shelton.

A funeral mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Aug. 10 at Saint Maximilian Kolbe Church in Scarborough.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Kidney Foundation, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or the Alzheimer’s Association.