James Bruce Mathews

James Bruce Mathews, known as Jim, passed away peacefully in his sleep early Friday
morning, March 18th, after a battle with Alzheimer's and cancer. He was 74 years old.
Described by his friends as fiery and fun, Jim lived a life of service to his family, company,
community and friends. Jim was born in 1947 and grew up on the Philadelphia main line in the
suburban hamlet of Malvern, PA. He was the only child of Ruth Madsen Mathews and Jack
Mathews, and had a loving relationship with his half-sister, Nancy Keplinger. He received a
bachelor's degree from Grove City College in Grove City, PA, where he was the captain of his
college soccer team and held leadership positions in his college fraternity, Pan Sophic. He was
the first person in his family to graduate college.
Known playfully by colleagues as the ‘Big Guy’, a term of endearment he’d often lovingly call
others as well, Jim had a knack for building relationships in his work. He spent the majority of
his career at Hunter Douglas where he rose to Vice President of Marketing. Jim was naturally
creative and beloved by the employees he managed; while at Hunter Douglas, Jim created a
sales incentive program, traveling around the world with his wife, his customers and their
spouses, many of whom became close friends. He was also active in his church, Saint
Bartholomew’s.
Jim loved golf, music, sweets, dancing, and as a young man he loved to take photographs;
something he did to woo his wife Kathy when they were first dating. They were married for 38
years and had two children, Katie and Ben. Together they built a life full of travel, adventure, rich
friendships, and so much fun.
Jim is survived by his wife Kathy, his son Ben, his daughter Katie, his son-in-law Matt, sister
Nancy, sister-in-law Elaine, brother-in-law Bobby, puppy Jesse, and a large community of loving
friends. A memorial service will be held at St. Bartholomew's Church in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ on Saturday,
March 26 at 2 p.m. Those wishing to join the family for a nearby gathering at the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn to
celebrate Jim’s life are welcome to do so following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family
requests donations be made to Holy Name Hospice (https://www.holyname.org/foundation/donation.aspx) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).