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James Galusha, 73

March 02, 2023

James “Jim” Eldridge Galusha, 73, of Blair Road in Williamstown, died March 2, 2023, at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio surrounded by his wife and children after a valiant battle following surgery.

Born in North Adams on October 27, 1949, son of Daniel Eldridge and Mary Lou (DeMayo) Galusha, Jim graduated from Mount Greylock Regional High School and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

As a lifelong resident of Fairfields Farm, a five-generation dairy farm started by his grandfather Daniel Jones Galusha in 1905, Jim worked exclusively on the farm through his 20s.

After an adventure out west and time working on a western ranch, Jim came home, branched out into heavy equipment and excavation work, and eventually founded Jim Galusha Excavating in the early 1980s. He continued to support Fairfields Farm throughout his life and was also the president of nearby Green River Farms for a period of time.

His fleet of big trucks, tractors, excavation and snow plowing equipment have been a staple in Williamstown for decades. For many years, Jim’s team of draft horses were a highlight of the Williamstown 4th of July parade, and in the last few years, his impressive tractors have become part of the yearly parade’s grand finale.

Jim had his piloting license and enjoyed flying his planes in early years. Besides his family, Jim’s other passions were his animals. In addition to his dogs, Jim always owned a few horses and was an avid western style horseman. He enjoyed giving family and friends rides around the farm in horse-drawn wagons and sleighs, on snowmobiles, four-wheelers and in one of his many old jeeps. He loved the fields and mountains surrounding his home with a deep passion and enjoyed sharing them with others.

Jim met his wife Jacqueline (O’Brien) Galusha in 2008. After a summer romance, the story has it that by that fall, Jim had flown to Paris, where she lived, to bring her back home to Williamstown with him. They were married in 2012.

Jim will be remembered driving through town in his truck, with a favorite dog riding shotgun, to meet up with friends and clients, many who were both.

Along with his wife, Jacqueline, Jim leaves a daughter, Sarah Galusha and her husband, Matthew Chinman, of Pittsburgh, PA; his son, Jay Galusha, and partner, Lori Spencer, and two brothers, John Galusha and partner, Jamie Bairstow, and Bill Galusha and wife, Kelly Galusha, all of Williamstown; five grandchildren, Lauren, James and Cassie Galusha and Luke and Nate Chinman; three great grandchildren, Oakleigh Roberts and Paisley and Lainey Howes, and nieces, nephews, countless cousins and others who loved him as a brother, father and grandfather.

A memorial service celebrating Jim’s life will take place Monday March 20, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Thompson Memorial Chapel on the campus of Williams College.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to The Trustees of Reservations through the Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.

Recollections & Sympathy For the Family
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I met Jim while working on the Hopper Road Bridge in 2015. He was a kind, soft spoken gentleman. He graciously allowed me and my kids to hunt geese in his fields each year since that first meeting. Those fields are one of the beautiful places on earth, and Jim was a responsible caretaker. While I only got to chat with him a couple of times each year, I am truly saddened to find that those moments have now come to an end. My deepest condolences to all who are grieved by his passing. The world has lost a great man.
from: Charlie Najimy	on: 03-20-2023

The family will always remember Jim as a person who loved the land and was so happy to be outside. Even when Lupus made it very difficult for him to do so, he would not stop riding his tractors and doing the work that he loved. At the last family reunion, you could tell how very much he loved the whole family but most of all his great grandkids. His face lit up so much as he watched the little ones. He was always eager to do work for his family and we never had to wait for him to do so. Jacqueline, you were such a great support for him, especially during the last months of his life. I know firsthand how very difficult that can be. The family will all miss Jim. May God take his soul to a place of peace and happiness.
from: Linda & Chuck Sweeney	on: 03-11-2023

To All Members of the Galusha Family, I remember the year Jim was born, 1949, as it was the year I graduated from Williamstown High School. Jim was my first nephew. I spent many hours baby sitting Jim and I will always cherish those fun times. Our hearts are sad but we know Jim no longer suffers and he is with Our Lord. We pray for the repose of his soul at daily Mass. We also are praying for all the family that the Lord will help them through this very difficult time. Remember the happy times when you feel sad. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Much love and many prayers across the miles, Aunt Joan {DeMayo} Maddock and Uncle Curt Maddock
from: Joan, Curtis A. Maddock	on: 03-10-2023

Jacqueline, John , Billy, Jay & all of the rest of Jimmy’s family . This passing of a great man in this small town in the Berkshires is a shock to all who knew Jimmy and his kind & caring personality. He will be missed by everyone especially his family who he cared for so much. May your happy times together & the memories give you pease and comfort during this difficult / sad time .Please except my heartfelt sympathy, my prayers are with you all.
from: Norman Quinn	on: 03-09-2023

My deepest sympathy to the Galusha Family. When I moved to the East Coast Jim was one of the first I met. I was impressed with the stories that he could tell when sitting among friends. After a few years I was very fortunate to get to know more of Jim's family and to this day I consider them some of my very best friends. Jim will be deeply missed by myself and the community. Rest in peace my friend
from: Marge Smith	on: 03-09-2023

Dear Galusha family, I grew up down the road from the Galusha farm on Green River Road. Every day after school (grade school/jr. high), I'd ride my bike down to the farm to "be a farm girl." I was asked to check in with Mary Lou, upon arrival. First stop was the barn by the horse pasture, then out to the pasture to just be around the horses. There was an older horse that was more tolerant of my petting and we became used to each other pretty quickly. I'd bring carrots to share with them and I'd like to think they looked forward to my arrival! I'd do some of my best pretending in the barn, pretending that the stalls were full and I'd pretend to scoop grain and disperse it in each stall. I even heaved an old saddle on the "half-wall" of one of the stalls and mounted up with an old bridle hooked to a nail in front of me. I was in heaven. I was always drawn to the manure smells of the big milking barn. I'd love to watch the cows come in for their evening milking and watch Jimmy or Billy push the accumulated manure across the concrete alley out to the big pile in the back of the barn. The hay loft was magical and climbing the wooden ladder up through the hole in the floor was so fun! As the sun would sink behind the mountains, I knew my time at the farm was over until the next day. One day, I was walking through the pastures behind the barns and came upon a dead calf. I had never seen anything like that before and immediately ran to tell Mrs. Galusha. I remember Mr. Galusha trying to explain to me the circle of life and that sometimes an unexpected death would happen on a farm. I'll never forget my special times at Galusha's farm. I live on a ranch in Texas and whenever I make it back to Williamstown, I make sure to leave enough time to drive by Galusha's farm. Even though so many changes have taken place over the years (I'm 60 now), it's still a place that I will never forget ... ever. Jimmy and his brothers were older than me, so I never really knew them, but I will always remember that I had a crush on them!! My deepest condolences to the family. Please know that your family and farm had a profound impact on me. God bless! Su
from: Su Samuelson	on: 03-09-2023

We are very sorry to hear of Jim's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
from: Deb and Paul Stawarz	on: 03-09-2023

We are deeply sorry for the loss of Jim.He was a great man
from: Frank S wilusz Jodi wilusz	on: 03-09-2023

So sorry to hear of Jims passing. Always remembered him as a nice guy from our school years & school field trips to the farm.
from: Marge Loncto Avanzato	on: 03-09-2023

I would like to offer my condolences to the Galusha family. I enjoyed seeing and talking with Jim when he came to the credit union. He will be extremely missed.
from: Jim Wondoloski Jr	on: 03-09-2023

Dearest Jacqueline I'm so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. I will forever be grateful to Jim for bringing you to the bank where I worked at the time to introduce me to you. He said ever so sweetly, "I wanted you to meet Jacqueline. She's been in France for years and now is moving back here and I thought you and Jacqueline could be friends." I looked at this beautiful woman that Jim wanted me to meet and was so flattered that he wanted me to meet his girl and wanted us to be friends that he was so fond of. I looked at you and said is a pleasure to meet you. Hope we can hang out soon. She said that would be nice. I said OK, I will call Jim to make a date. You then were like, "you have Jim's number?" I said I do so I will get in touch with him. You are like "no you will lose his number." That's when I realized you two fancied each other. I knew this was the woman Jim has been waiting for to come into his life. Whenever Jim came in the bank to do his business he would ask if I've gotten in touch with you yet to hang out. Jim will always be an icon of Williamstown. He will be missed by so many family and friends. He was one loved man. He leaves this world and there will be a lot of sad hearts but will have more great memories for all of us to remember and will smile of any time we think of him. This is a great loss in Williamstown but will always be remembered in such wonderful memories of him that we will share for a lifetime. Jacqueline, again, I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope all these memories will always put a smile on your face and warm your heart and will carry you through the rest of your life till you are reunited with him as we know Jim has earned his place in heaven. Rest in peace Jim and the town will always carry on your memory. I love you Jacqueline and if you need a thing please don't hesitate to reach out to me and I will come running. Sending you all my love and hugs.
from: Holly	on: 03-09-2023

I am deeply saddened by the news of Jim's death. Jim was a kind and friendly presence where ever he went. He will be missed. My prayers go out to his family. Please accept my sincere condolences.
from: Carl Villanueva	on: 03-09-2023

So sorry to Jim’s family. He was one of a kind! Always ready to help out in any way needed. I know myself and all of my family will miss him so much. Talk about an honest , caring friend, he was the one! Just doesn’t seem real !
from:	on: 03-08-2023

Jacqueline, I’m so sorry to learn of Jim’s passing. Raising my family here on Thornliebank, Jim was so patient as he waited for epic night sledding to cease before he plowed - yet still always clear by morning! We could count on Jim for many things around our property like we could count on the sun rising the next morning. There are few like Jim, and I’m happy you shared many happy years together! Many, many hugs to you and your family as you celebrate his life and mourn his passing.
from: Emily Brannan	on: 03-08-2023

To the family so sorry for your loss. I always liked taking to Jim and listening to a good story.
from: Shawn nicklien	on: 03-08-2023