James Tyson McCabe

James Tyson McCabe died peacefully at his home in West Arlington, VT, at the age of 93, on May 2, 2025, in the company of his family He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on March 14, 1932, the second of three children of James M. McCabe and Elizabeth (Tyson) McCabe. He was predeceased by his older sister Patricia Perkins and his younger brother Peter McCabe. They lived in Fort Garry, Manitoba, until 1945, when they moved to West Arlington, VT to a farm along the Batten Kill. He graduated from Arlington Memorial High School in 1950 and from Amherst College in 1954. He married Carol Todd in 1954, and they were together for almost 60 years until her death in 2014. He is survived by their six children, James C.(Susan) McCabe of West Arlington, VT, Melissa E.(Terrence, died 2024) Burke of Andover, MA, William A. (Ina) McCabe of Winchester, MA, Laurie E. (Peter) Ling of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, Thomas M. (Jacqueline) McCabe of West Arlington, VT and Sarah E. (James) Tasse of Greenwood, ME; their ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He and Carol began their life together in Arlington, VT, moving to Winthrop, MA while he was in the Army at Fort Banks, MA. In 1957 they moved to Glastonbury, CT when he began work at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, CT. They raised their children in Glastonbury and lived there until 1990 when they returned to the farm in West Arlington, VT, following his retirement from Pratt & Whitney. They both lived out their lives on the farm. He had a successful thirty-year career as an engineer at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft working on several notable projects, including the development of fuel cells for the Apollo space program and on the development of ceramic seal technology for turbine housings on jet engines. His true devotion was to his wife and children and always put their needs ahead of his own. Kind, gentle, and compassionate, he and Carol encouraged their children to find their own paths through exploration and discovery. He was tirelessly supportive of their undertakings and generous with his time, talent and love. He shared his love of the outdoors with his family, taking many trips and vacations to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and to the sea in Martha’s Vineyard, MA. As their children became adults, Carol and Jim acquired Morgan horses and operated a stable along the Connecticut River meadows in Glastonbury. They acquired the main house of the farm in Vermont in 1981 and eventually moved there along with their beloved horses. There they created a comfortable home for their horses and dogs, a place to collect tractors, and the most welcoming setting one could imagine for their grandchildren. Carol developed a chronic neurological disease that marked the final 30 years of her life. Jim cared for her with unflagging love and devotion, helping her to have as full and complete a life as her condition would allow. He enjoyed the seasonality of the farm, especially the haying season, and loved watching the many birds that lived at or passed through the farm. After Carol’s passing, he and their dog Rosie, continued to welcome his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the farm, fostering five generations of traditions at that lovely spot along the Batten Kill. He was a loving, caring man, who put the needs of those around him ahead of his own. His steadfast support and goodwill helped those who had the good fortune to spend time with him, become better people. He has left the world a better place for his being a part of it. A memorial service will be held on the family farm in the summer. Memorial gifts in his name can be made to The Batten Kill Watershed Alliance, PO Box 734, Arlington, VT 05250 or the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region, 7 Albert Cree Drive, Rutland, VT 05701.