Jim—the oldest of six children—was born in Boston, MA and grew up in nearby

Arlington. He attended Matignon High School in Cambridge, MA.

From a young age he discovered he had a love for animal care which led him to

enroll at the Stockbridge School at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst from

which he graduated with an associates degree in 1961. He joined the US Peace

Corps and was a Volunteer from 1962-1964 in Jamaica where he met fellow

volunteer Elsie (his wife of 56 years) along with many lifelong friends.

Motivated by his experience in the Peace Corps, Jim returned from Jamaica to study

animal husbandry at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, CA. He

graduated in 1966 and headed north to San Francisco where he landed his first job

in animal care at the San Francisco Zoo.

In 1967, he and Elsie were married at the Old Mission in San Luis Obispo, CA. Later

that year they relocated to New York where Jim started a long career at New York's

Wildlife Conservation Society (more commonly known as the Bronx Zoo) where he

started as a curatorial trainee and ended as the General Curator. At the Bronx Zoo,

he helped to develop many of the exhibits that are features of the zoo today

including Wild Asia, Jungle World, and the Congo Gorilla Forest, and became a

respected voice in the world of wildlife conservation. Upon retiring in 2004, Jim

enjoyed spending time at his homes in Copake, NY and Orlando.

Jim is survived by his wife Elsie, children, Donna and Christopher Doherty,

daughter-in-law, Linda, grandsons, William and Julian, sisters Elaine Doherty Leach,

Maureen Fleites and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at Holy Cross Catholic

Church, 12600 Marsfield Avenue, Orlando, FL 32837. In lieu of flowers please

consider a donation in Jim's name to Parkinson's Voice Project, 646 North Coit

Road, Suite 2250, Richardson, TX 75080, phone: 469-375-6500

From Dignity Memorial.