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James L. Mason

James L. Mason, 75, of Westbrook, passed away on Sept. 1 after a valiant battle with cancer.

Jim was born on Aug. 31, 1948, to Helen and Orville Dean Mason in Covina, California. After graduating from Saratoga High School in 1966, he went on to serve his country for four years in the Vietnam War as a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, where he worked as Crew Chief for the C141 Starlifter. His time in the service took him all over the globe, and he took great pride in serving his country.

After the war, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the California State University at Sacramento. Shortly thereafter, he received his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Jim met his future wife, Denise DiMarco, in Lake Tahoe, California, in 1972. Jim broke his leg skiing, and Denise was a nurse at the hospital at Lake Tahoe. While Jim was recuperating, Denise stopped by often to check on Jim, and that started a romance that would last over 50 years. The two married in 1974. In 1975, the couple moved to Connecticut and eventually settled in the town of Westbrook. They went on to have a son, Roger, and a daughter, Jackie.

Jim began his career working for a few small accounting firms and, in 1984, founded his own accounting practice in Madison. In 1988, he partnered with his brother-in-law Robert DiMarco to form the firm Mason & DiMarco PC, which continues to exist today as Mason, DiMarco, Shaw & Leone, PC.

After retiring in 2013, Jim spent his time traveling to Florida, golfing, playing cribbage, rooting for the New York Yankees, and spoiling his four grandchildren. One of his joys later in life was teaching his oldest grandson, Ryan, to fish. He even moved to New York City briefly to help take care of his grandson Mason while Jackie was pregnant with Molly.

Jim was always there for everyone – family, neighbors, colleagues, or friends. His smile was friendly, welcoming, warm, and genuine. Jim’s optimism and positive outlook on life were contagious. He lived every day to the fullest, always doing something and never sitting still. He was generous to a fault and loved by all. He will be remembered for his infectious laugh, sense of humor, enormous kindness, and zest for life.

James is survived by his wife, Denise; his brothers, Bob, Dan, and Bill; his stepbrother Jim; his stepsisters, Ellen and Lesley; as well as his two children, Roger and Jackie; and his four grandchildren, Ryan, Mason, Molly, and Hannah.

The wake will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 at Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Rd, Madison. There will be a memorial service from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at Westbrook Congregational Church, 1166 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s honor to the Gary Sinise Foundation, a foundation that honors our veterans, defenders, first responders, their families, and those in need. https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate