James Russell Deephouse died unexpectedly on April 15, 2016, in Branford, Connecticut. He was born on January 21, 1931, in Montréal, Quebec, son of Lawrence Paul Deephouse and Libbie Turek Deephouse. Jim grew up in Hamden, Connecticut, where he attended Spring Glen School and Cheshire Academy. He entered Silliman College of Yale University, and he graduated in June, 1952, with a Bachelor of Engineering degree. He married Lucy Larcom Dayton on July 1, 1952. Immediately after their honeymoon, he started active duty in the US Navy as an Ensign. He served on the USS Thuban out of Norfolk, VA. Jim and Lucy raised three children: Christopher, Deborah and David. The Deephouse family lived for 27 years in West Hartford, Connecticut. During that time, Jim was elected to the Board of Education and served as its chair for two years.

Jim worked with his father at Deephouse Equipment Company for decades, and after Larry retired, Jim became its president. He served as New England district representative of the Associated Equipment Distributors, 1970-1975.

Jim and Lucy bought a summer cottage in Madison in 1963, and they became active members at the Madison Beach Club. Jim was very involved with the sailing program, including two years as Commodore. Beginning in 1970, Jim encouraged young people to sail with him; many won trophies in his boat. In 1989, Jim and Lucy moved to Madison full-time and joined the Madison Winter Club. Jim was active in Madison civic life. He was elected to the Board of Finance, and he served on the new Daniel Hand High School Committee, the Town Charter Commission, and the Republican Town Committee. Jim enjoyed theater, concerts, Yale football games, and museums. Jim had tours of most of the state capitol buildings and he was looking forward to tours of the others.

Jim is predeceased by his wife, Lucy. He is survived by his children and their spouses: Chris Deephouse and Donna Hunt of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; Deborah and David Blecich of Cuttingsville, Vermont; and David Deephouse and Melissa Hathaway of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He has five granddaughters: Nancy Deephouse of Philadelphia, Kimberly Blecich of Albany, New York, Alicia Blecich of Norwalk, Connecticut, Abigail Bowering of Victoria, British Columbia, and Lucy Hathaway of Edmonton, Alberta. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Staley, and by numerous nieces, nephews and in laws.

A funeral mass will be held at the St. Margaret's Catholic Church, 39 Academy Street, Madison, CT on Friday, May 6, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Madison Historical Society or St. Margaret's Church.