Jim's Obituary

James Newell Holcomb, M. D. of Newport, Vermont died November 9, 2024 in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Jim was born September 23, 1948, in Winstead, Connecticut to Merritt and Mary Holcomb. He had one sister, Patricia Holcomb Rogers, who predeceased him. At the age of 4, Jim moved with his family to Guildhall, VT.  He began school in a one room schoolhouse with a pot belly stove and an outhouse. From an early age he helped with the family farm - milking cows before and after school. Reading was a lifelong passion, and he found solace spending time in the library. In high school he excelled at science and history and while he was told he should apply to work in the forestry service, instead he applied to the University of Vermont where he earned a BA in zoology in 1970, followed by a Doctor of Medicine in 1974. During his residency at Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia, he met his future wife, Jean.  Jim was adamant that he wished to return to New England to practice medicine and Jean, who would have followed him anywhere, agreed. They were married in October 1975 in Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1977 they moved to Newport, Vermont where he worked for North Country Hospital until 1979 when he became a partner in the medical practice of Schurman, Beloin and Holcomb. Upon Dr. Schurman's retirement the practice continued as Beloin and Holcomb until purchased by North Country Hospital in 1995.

After moving to Newport, Jim and Jean purchased farmland adjacent to his parents' farm in Guildhall, with the idea of raising hay and pigs. At one time the piggery held more than 50 pigs. As his medical practice and family grew, he turned his farming efforts to vegetable gardens and renovating their home in Newport.  Jim loved being in the great outdoors whether hiking or hunting with his Chesapeake Bay Retriever, McCloud for ducks, or deer hunting with friends.  Jim was a voracious reader who enjoyed biographies of great leaders, historical figures and learning about science, and nature. Family camping adventures often included visits to historical forts where he could describe in detail how and why the battles occurred.  Physical exercise was also a passion.  For many years, he was an avid runner and then transitioned to biking with friends from the Memphremagog Velo Group, and cross country skiing in the winter.  After retirement, he finally was able to take up golf, skeet shooting and downhill skiing. Pickleball came next, which he played with abandon and wild joy.

Watching his children grow, develop, and learn to be productive members of society gave him such joy. It was not unusual to have one of them call him at 5 o'clock in the morning to discuss a personal or professional question, and he always listened and gave the soundest advice.

Jim cared for his patients in the Northeast Kingdom for 38 years, until his retirement in 2015. As a family physician, he often cared for several generations in a family and felt privileged to participate in the health of his patients. Because of his dedication, he often ran late with his appointments which annoyed patients, but each knew that they would have Jim's full attention when he entered the exam room.

After Jim's retirement, they moved to a lake house, where they spent many happy hours enjoying the lake, the waterfowl and the changing seasons on Jay Peak.  Jim and Jean often felt they were the luckiest people on earth.

He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Jean Campbell Holcomb, daughters Sarah H. Summerton and her husband Scott, Elizabeth H. Demartini and her husband Steve, Rachel H. Biesiada and her husband Zac, Meghan Holcomb and son James Holcomb.  He was an adoring grandfather to 8 grandchildren: Campbell and Jameson Summerton, Isabella, Evelyn and Josephine Demartini, John and Merritt Holcomb and Lily Biesiada.

He will be missed dearly.

Calling hours will be held at the Curtis-Britch and Bouffard Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, Derby, VT on Friday November 15 from 2:00- 4:00PM and from 6:00-8:00PM.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 16 at 11:00 at the United Church of Newport, 63 Third Street, Newport, VT.

Memorial donations may be made to:

North County Hospital, 189 Prouty Drive, Newport, VT 05855 or the Dartmouth Hitchcock Cardiovascular Department, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03766.

Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.